dead 1 of 3

adjective

ˈded How to pronounce dead (audio)
Definition of deadnext
1
as in deceased
no longer living I inherited this heirloom from my dead great-grandfather

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2
as in slow
lacking in gaiety, movement, or animation the store is often dead after 4:00 p.m.

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3
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness a long day of traveling left them just dead

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4
as in absolute
having no exceptions or restrictions there was a dead silence following that incredibly moving performance

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5
as in numb
lacking in sensation or feeling my foot was dead after I absentmindedly sat on it for an hour

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6
as in extinct
no longer existing the dead Babylonian culture

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7
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment local coal mines that have been dead for years

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8
as in deadly
of, relating to, or suggestive of death fell into a dead faint upon hearing the news

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9
as in doomed
facing certain defeat, disaster, or death if we don't finish this project on time, we're dead

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10
as in bland
lacking in taste or flavor from the first sip I could tell that the wine hadn't aged well and was pretty much dead

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11
as in barren
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation the dead wastes of the far country to the west

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dead

2 of 3

adverb

1
as in straight
in a direct line or course the finish line is dead ahead

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2
as in completely
to a full extent or degree I'm dead certain that's the one I want

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dead

3 of 3

noun

as in death
the state of being dead it's impossible to raise someone from the dead

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dead contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dead are deceased, defunct, departed, and late. While all these words mean "devoid of life," dead applies literally to what is deprived of vital force but is used figuratively of anything that has lost any attribute (such as energy, activity, radiance) suggesting life.

a dead, listless performance

How does the word deceased relate to other synonyms for dead?

Deceased, departed, and late apply to persons who have died recently. Deceased is the preferred term in legal use.

the estate of the deceased

When is it sensible to use defunct instead of dead?

The words defunct and dead are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation.

a defunct television series

Where would departed be a reasonable alternative to dead?

The synonyms departed and dead are sometimes interchangeable, but departed is used usually as a euphemism.

our departed sister

When might late be a better fit than dead?

Although the words late and dead have much in common, late is used especially with reference to a person in a specific relation or status.

the company's late president

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dead
Adjective
The girl was pronounced dead at Broward Health, according to police. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026 The family of an 18-year-old Mississippi college student found dead after disappearing during a Fourth of July outing is calling for a more extensive investigation, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his death. — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 10 July 2026
Adverb
Star Jon Heder launched into movie stardom with his portrayal of the title character, a dead-eyed, socially awkward outcast teen struggling with bullies at school and his eccentric family. — Danny Horn, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026 The Minnesota House is split dead-even. — Philip Elliott, Time, 8 June 2026
Noun
His remains showed clear signs of cannibalism, confirming early Inuit reports of desperate crew members resorting to eating their dead. — ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026 Once the fog of chaos lifted, the police and the protesters both gathered their dead. — Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for dead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead
  1. deceased
  2. slow
  3. tired
  4. absolute
  5. numb
  6. extinct
  7. dormant
  8. deadly
Adjective
  • Owens, who turns 97 on Thursday, said of deceased parents Homer and Annie Owens.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026
  • The woman was pronounced deceased at the scene, while the man was transported to an area hospital.
    — Ross Guidotti, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Definition of deceased
Adjective
  • Still, as the game wore on to the waning moments, both teams were visibly sapped of energy and moving at a slower pace, including Haaland, who faded late in the game, was subbed out at the 105-minute mark and replaced by Jorgen Strand Larsen.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 12 July 2026
  • The question is whether the stock price leaves enough room if that recovery is slower, messier, or pricier than hoped.
    — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • But after two wars in nine months, there was a sense of tired resignation when news of the airstrikes hit Tehran Wednesday.
    — Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Most transformation requests are really about a bottleneck someone is tired of working around.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • Haiti’s Wilson Isidor had an absolute screamer from outside the box against Morocco.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
  • Molecular self-assembly meets graphene Silicon solar panels have dominated the market for decades, but are rapidly hitting an absolute physical efficiency limit.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 July 2026
Definition of absolute
Adjective
  • Spector is clearly concerned with the pernicious consequences of technology, its ability to numb emotions and steer people into ideological cul-de-sacs.
    — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 July 2026
  • Relationships often suffer as people withdraw or feel emotionally numb.
    — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Definition of numb
Adjective
  • Tasmanian tigers, otherwise known as thylacines, have been extinct since 1936.
    — Taylor Dotson, Scientific American, 10 July 2026
  • Some of the species went extinct during the many decades covered by the data.
    — Christopher A. Lepczyk, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
Definition of extinct
Adjective
  • As the dikes spread, the region faced earthquakes and brought back into action long dormant faults, draining the magma beneath the ridge.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 9 July 2026
  • Energy Substantiation’s model attempts to monetize those dormant barrels while using them to back digital tokens.
    — Mia Gindis, Fortune, 9 July 2026
Definition of dormant
Adjective
  • When the Guadalupe River surged through Texas Hill Country last summer, Elida Sierra Lutz and her three children were swept into the deadly flooding like debris in the current.
    — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Written and directed by YouTube filmmaker Curry Barker, the film, made for $750,000, tells a twisted tale of love with deadly consequences.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of deadly

Phrases Containing dead

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deactivating
dead
deadbeat
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Cite this Entry

“Dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of dead for Spanish Speakers

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