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 violet crust fungi, Phlebiopsis crassa, often covers sections of dead logs where bark is still intact. — Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 8 Nov. 2026 The same suspect is facing a separate murder charge over killings in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyskie, Żurek said, a town some 93 miles northeast of Kraków where three of the man’s relatives were found dead in his home. — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 8 Nov. 2026
Adverb
He was taken to a hospital and was pronounced dead less than 30 minutes later, Backus said. — Elle Meyers, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 The Horned Frogs rank dead last in the Big 12 in rushing offense, 15th in sacks allowed, and their quarterback looks like a player who is losing confidence. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2026
Noun
Fire crews soon pronounced the driver of the Ram dead at the scene. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 31 July 2026 As family secrets and wounds, resurface the entire neighborhood senses presences and hear the distinctive sounds of their own dead. — John Hopewell, Variety, 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
  • The main players, now all deceased — including smuggler Jon Roberts, his associate/partner Toni Mooney and Colombian queenpin Griselda Blanco — appear as their younger selves.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The Lost Screen Memorial features replicas of oversized smartphones with the photo of a deceased child on each home screen.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of deceased
Adjective
  • Stuttering drum patterns and elastic basslines rub up against glossy keyboards and slow piano chords, blending early 2000s sounds with the futuristic sensuality of Kelela.
    — Precious Fondren, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2026
  • On the earnings growth front, while emerging markets on average are expected to deliver a 45% improvement, India's forecast is much slower at 11%, as per Bernstein.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • People are sick and tired of attack ads, robocalls and misinformation.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Doncic had 32 points and 10 assists in a 124-114 win over the Atlanta Hawks as the Lakers relied on their depth to secure their sixth consecutive win and stay atop the Western Conference despite a short, tired bench.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • Mac and Cheese Bites An absolute icon in the Trader Joe’s frozen aisle.
    — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Arkansas football is at the second lowest level of its history with the absolute lowest being the two years with Chad Morris, who Yurachek announced his hiring and became his boss.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of absolute
Adjective
  • To live in truth here, now, today is to resist the forces that would like nothing more than to isolate, numb, and commodify us.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Halfway through my hands and feet went numb, then felt like fire, and then contorted into strange positions like lobster claws.
    — Kate Berlant, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of numb
Adjective
  • That means that Olympus Mons, the extinct Martian volcano that at around 16 miles (26 kilometers) above the surrounding Martian plains is the largest mountain in the solar system, may in fact be a slumbering giant.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The creature belonged to an extinct group of marine animals called belemnites, which were related to modern squid and octopuses.
    — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of extinct
Adjective
  • The zoonotic infectious disease is caused by spore-forming bacteria found naturally in soil in most parts of the world, which can remain dormant for long periods, according to the World Health Organization.
    — Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026
  • When to Cut Back Catmint Wait to cut back catmint until mid-winter, when the plant is dormant, or in early spring, to encourage new growth when the plant is preparing to exit dormancy.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of dormant
Adjective
  • Putin chose to perpetrate one of his deadliest and most damaging attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure at the very moment American media was singularly focused on election results.
    — Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The Egyptian railway system, the oldest in Africa and the Middle East, has a long history of deadly accidents.
    — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 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 12 Nov. 2026.

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