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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
Firefighters arrived to find the passenger of the vehicle dead, according to dispatch logs. — Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2026 The driver was pronounced dead at the scene by the Los Angeles City Fire Department. — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 11 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
  • Brain donations from deceased football players have risen in recent years, prompting researchers to take a fresh look at the risk and extent of CTE with respect to dementia diagnoses.
    — Mike McRae September 15, New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Ploger's parents -- his father is retired and his mother, Marguerite, is deceased -- were originally from Owosso.
    — Sheryl Lee, Freep.com, 11 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
  • Plus, while the pill improved certain sleep metrics, people who took it didn’t report being any less tired during the day.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Sep. 2026
  • All the locals are tired after another demanding [tourism] season, but at the same time, there is a feeling of optimism.
    — Chadner Navarro, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • But Aly [Turchioe, director of buying] and Trevor [Harvey, buyer] have been an absolute pleasure to work with over the years.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Other experts say Kim Jong Un, 42, is still too young to designate his heir, a move that could diminish his absolute power.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of absolute
Adjective
  • On one Anderson sack late in the first quarter, Allen kicked his feet in agony and later revealed the hit made his left arm go numb.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of numb
Adjective
  • As a paleontologist, Georgalis studies modern snakes to understand the fragmented fossil remains of ancient extinct ones.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Other travel advisors agree that summer travel is not going extinct, but have indeed noticed shifts in terms of where—and when—people are going.
    — Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of extinct
Adjective
  • Consider applying an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil after pruning to smother scale and insect eggs to the dormant roses.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2026
  • This barrier smothers dormant weed seeds and breaks down into rich soil by spring.
    — Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 10 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

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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 17 Sep. 2026.

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