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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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dead

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adverb

dead

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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
The suspect in the attack was found dead late on Sunday, according to law enforcement. Kirk Siegler, NPR, 30 June 2025 According to Swain, first responders took 15 people to a local hospital following the stampede, and three people were later pronounced dead. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 29 June 2025
Adverb
Deputies believe the contractor hadn’t been dead long, probably within a day, by the time authorities got involved, KPRC reported. Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 May 2025 Once securing a warrant to enter, officers found the husband and wife dead inside, Depue said. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
Into the Pigeon cave Roughly 14,700 years ago, a group of people were living and burning their dead in a cave located in what is now Morocco. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2025 Russia’s Tass news agency earlier said the Russian dead included at least two children, citing the country’s consul in Hurghada. Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead
Adjective
  • The now deceased suspect is believed to have started the fire intentionally to draw-in and target responding firefighters, officials have said.
    Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 1 July 2025
  • Authorities later located the body of a deceased man with a firearm nearby and lifted the shelter-in-place order that had been in place.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Forecasters at the National Weather Service said there was the potential for additional catastrophic flooding and heavy rainfall in the region throughout Saturday, given the storm’s slow craw across the state.
    Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 5 July 2025
  • Even though we've all been told gray is on its way out for quite some time, it's been a slow burn.
    Tessa Cooper, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • The toll on crew members goes far beyond simply being tired.
    Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2025
  • If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • This Week on Max: PCMag's Picks Sinners (July 4) What better way to celebrate America's birthday than with one of the absolute best films of the year?
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 July 2025
  • Historical practice further refutes the idea that the president’s executive power is absolute.
    Steve Woolpert, Mercury News, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • The tips of my fingers are numb, and my toes are also numb.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025
  • Her mother, Keily Chinchilla, says Bustillo has often been forced to sleep on the floor, her spine seizing from inflammation, her left arm and half her face numb.
    Dhruv Mehrotra, Wired News, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • In the business world, there is extensive literature warning against this—companies that refuse to adapt to market needs go extinct.
    Pablo Listingart, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • What could possibly go wrong on such a slippery slope, where nothing remains sacred, tradition is going extinct and everything left is tacky and transactional?
    Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Waititi never recommitted to Akira and the project has been dormant ever since.
    Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025
  • The Guardians can boast of solid pitching, but their offense has been dormant.
    Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Texan communities are dealing with the impact of the deadly flash floods along the Guadalupe River, which have killed at least 80 people so far.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 7 July 2025
  • The search for those swept into deadly floods in central Texas continued Sunday as the death toll climbed to 78.
    Annabella Rosciglione, The Washington Examiner, 6 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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