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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in extinct
no longer existing the dead Babylonian culture

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dead

2 of 3

adverb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dead

3 of 3

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Rescue teams in Nepal pulled two workers alive from a hydropower tunnel nine days after catastrophic floods swept through the country, leaving more than 1,000 people dead and thousands more missing. — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 But the Minnesota Twins as a team is dead last in Location+ as a staff. — Eno Sarris, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Adverb
Colorado is projected to finish near the bottom of the league once again, according to a media poll put on by The Tulsa World newspaper and the recruiting rankings have the Buffs dead-last in the league in recruiting classes. — Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026 Cops were then able to gain access to Penzo’s unit and discovered him dead inside. — Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
In many cases, our dead are barreling headlong into the void without any kind of ceremony at all. — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026 The entire neighborhood will sense presences and hear the distinctive sounds of their own dead. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 July 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
  • Some of the attacks were viciously personal, like about how a deceased family member deserved to die.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The pedestrian was transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance and was later pronounced deceased, police said.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of deceased
Adjective
  • In fact, starting too early often has more downsides than taking it slow.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026
  • But so far, the economy has grown at roughly 2% annually, slower than the gains during the Biden administration.
    — Josh Boak, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • That was especially common among Group of 6 fans, who are tired of watching their best players and coaches getting poached by wealthier programs.
    — Manny Navarro, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • As the fascination with Ernetti grows into something unhealthy, Béatrice subtly grows more tired, more distracted, more irritable and desperate for answers, small changes Sellier conveys with a smart sense of restraint.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • Almost all have private terraces or gardens, and the original frescoes and vaulted ceilings add to the feeling of absolute splendor.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • This perfume features notes of cacao absolute and caramel, along with green hazelnut, jasmine sambac absolute, cedarwood, ambroxan, and moss providing a nutty and earthy element, too.
    — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of absolute
Adjective
  • When the old man dies, her numb reaction appears caught between grief and relief, though her two adult sons show little understanding of her emotional state.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Be sure to start below the injury and wrap upward, overlapping each layer but never so tightly that fingers or toes become numb or painful.
    — Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of numb
Adjective
  • By the ’50s, the accessory that launched a riot was virtually extinct.
    — Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 4, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Now the smell has gone, unforgotten by elderly noses but irretrievably extinct.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of extinct
Adjective
  • It was shut down in 2008 and has sat dormant since, contaminated by hazardous chemicals in the ground that GM never cleaned up.
    — Greta Reich, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • While the Anaheim Ducks, located a stone’s throw from Angel Stadium, are in the midst of a massive refurbishment project, the area surrounding the baseball stadium is largely dormant.
    — Sam Blum, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of dormant
Adjective
  • Deadly crash comes amid Labor Day travel The deadly crash happened during the Labor Day travel rush at the South Florida hub.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Jack Lang El Hadji Malick Diouf (Brentford) When Senegal beat England in a friendly last summer, the standout player was their rangy left-back, who seemed to spend the entire game ploughing up and down that flank and whipping in deadly crosses.
    — David Ornstein, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of deadly

Phrases Containing dead

Browse Nearby Words

deactivating
dead
deadbeat
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of loath

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All