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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
Two men are dead and a third person injured after a triple shooting Saturday night in Kansas City, Kansas. Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2025 One person is dead after a shooting in the Frogtown neighborhood of St. Paul early Saturday morning, police said. Kristi Miller, Twin Cities, 16 Aug. 2025
Adverb
The Royals rank dead last in baseball in home runs, and while Kauffman Stadium is widely regarded as a pitcher's park, the Royals desperately need to add pop to their lineup. Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025 Robert Markel, 89, was discovered dead along with his dog at his home near the community of Jerome in Collier County after authorities were called shortly after 7 a.m., Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesperson George Reynaud said. Phil Helsel, NBC news, 6 May 2025
Noun
In Kerr County, home to Camp Mystic and other youth camps, searchers have found 16 bodies since Saturday afternoon, bringing the total number of dead there to 59, including 21 children, said Sheriff Larry Leitha. Jim Vertuno, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025 The discovery brought the number of dead there to five, with five others potentially under the debris, Terekhov said. Arkansas Online, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for dead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead
Adjective
  • During a press conference, Cpl. Dallas Thompson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that two people were deceased.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • The four deceased victims had not been identified as of Aug. 6.
    Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Three organic meats are on offer for Sunday roast: slow roasted Black Angus, with creamed horseradish; succulent Tamworth Pork with bramley apple sauce and Texel Lamb with a classic mint sauce.
    Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Burrow hopes that feeling the rush and gaining real reps working the pocket will help lessen the impact of opening-week clunkers that contributed to the team’s slow starts.
    Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The tired belief that Republicans are better at handling the economy simply isn’t true.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
  • If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • But the effect is the absolute least at the marginal rate, and the least in general when the cuts are in rates of a progressive tax system.
    Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2025
  • But once upon a time, Western societies understood that once a horrific war has been initiated, there can be no substitute for absolute victory.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Hairpins proved the steering and suspension rapid enough to rotate the car quickly, and what felt like numb steering initially began to reveal some information about road surfaces and available grip as the road surface changed then changed again.
    Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 23 July 2025
  • These include feeling emotionally numb or that life is meaningless; experiencing difficulty accepting the loss; and experiencing confusion over their own identity.
    Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 28 July 2025
Adjective
  • Since its passing, not a single marine mammal species in U.S. waters has gone extinct, even as use of the ocean has increased.
    Ryan Green, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Meanwhile, pensions are largely extinct except in government, 401(k)s are too often spotty as replacements, and rent absorbs a huge chunk of paychecks for those without equity.
    Clyde Wayne Crews Jr, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The drought put brush and other vegetation in the area into dormant, winter-like states, fire behavior analyst Kevin Thompson said during the Monday night meeting.
    Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025
  • What should be a tender, feminist-minded story centered on a young woman rediscovering her dormant childhood dreamer turns into a middling melodrama about being with a cute guy in desperate need of her rescue.
    Courtney Howard, Variety, 1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Police chases in Milwaukee have become increasingly deadly Police pursuits are so frequent, Milwaukee officers engage in between two and three every day, according to a city report in 2024.
    JR Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 9 Aug. 2025
  • Malaria, the most deadly parasite infection in the world, is most commonly caused by the protozoa parasite Plasmodium falciparum.4 Ectoparasites: These parasites usually live on (not in) their host.
    Jenna Anderson, Health, 8 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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