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
In January, the government suppressed huge nationwide protests in a brutal crackdown that left thousands dead. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 3 July 2026 He was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said, adding an investigation was ongoing. — Kanishka Singh, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Adverb
Among 81 qualified guards, Savaiinaea ranked dead last in overall grade, according to Pro Football Focus. — Miami Herald, 29 May 2026 Straka, who usually plays courses like TPC River Highlands well, finished dead last in the field of 72 players. — Jeff Hartman, Forbes.com, 30 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 Taiwan suffered around 50,000 military dead and another 50,000 civilian casualties. — Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 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
  • Canonization is the process through which a deceased individual may become a saint, or is confirmed through an extensive research process to be in heaven.
    — Vivian Wilson, Twin Cities, 8 July 2026
  • Jose was declared deceased at the scene while Samantha was rushed to a local hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of deceased
Adjective
  • There was no repeat of the slow start that cost him a spot last season.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
  • The house old-fashioned can be made with bourbon or gin and is a much slower sip.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • Depredation occurs when a shark steals an angler’s catch off their line, and Florida’s fishers are tired of it.
    — Kairi Lowery, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
  • Pugh is tired of seeing her mom suffer by no fault of her own.
    — Bryant Reed, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • This World Cup has been bringing the absolute goods from day one.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • The last decade has been an absolute whirlwind for the 38-year-old film school graduate, who could have never dreamed of the success he’s enjoyed as a YouTube personality with over 10 million subscribers (and counting).
    — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of absolute
Adjective
  • Relationships often suffer as people withdraw or feel emotionally numb.
    — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • Some doctors understandably get a bit numb to the pain of their patients.
    — Lawrence Ingrassia, STAT, 26 June 2026
Definition of numb
Adjective
  • Excavators uncovered stone artifacts and bones of Stegodon florensis insularis, a bison-size extinct relative of elephants, near the Homo floresiensis fossils.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
  • Pittsburgh's National Aviary recently hatched two Guam kingfisher chicks, a species extinct in the wild.
    — Finch Walker, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of extinct
Adjective
  • Some of the renovations have been successful; fountains are running anew, including the long-dormant cascading water feature at the city’s popular Meridian Hill Park.
    — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Our bedroom is obviously dormant and dead, but that’s ok too.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dead

Nglish: Translation of dead for Spanish Speakers

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