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
Roaches, rodents — dead and alive —and an appearance by PETA are all in this week’s edition of The Sick and Shut Down List, South Florida restaurants that failed state inspection. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026 Alaei and her colleagues exposed superworms to dead animals of all sizes, ranging from mice, fish and small birds to wolves and wild cats. — Ari Daniel, NPR, 17 July 2026
Adverb
Medics pronounced Helton and Smith dead at the scene and took Lee-Nathan to a local hospital for treatment. — Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 1 July 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 Once the fog of chaos lifted, the police and the protesters both gathered their dead. — Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 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
  • Owens, who turns 97 on Thursday, said of deceased parents Homer and Annie Owens.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026
  • The woman was pronounced deceased at the scene, while the man was transported to an area hospital.
    — Ross Guidotti, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Definition of deceased
Adjective
  • After the shooting, the victim’s car was seen on surveillance footage driving in slow circles as federal agents appeared to try and stop the vehicle.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Thus far, capital markets more broadly have been slow to respond to this threat for a variety of reasons.
    — Justin Worland, Time, 18 July 2026
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • The brand is winning over tired consumers who already reach for something sweet before bed by combining the comfort of a late-night treat with ingredients designed to support a better sleep routine.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 17, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2026
  • Some get the number of dollars tied to their age (this used to be the case for Ollie and his brother, Owen, until their mom, Rebecca, got tired of them fighting over their disparate payouts) and others much more.
    — Erika Janes, Curbed, 17 July 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • Yet Ada is an absolute delight, hilariously satirical and brilliantly made.
    — Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
  • Despite its sulfuric stench, in a stroke of absolute luck, this meteorite crashed into the right house.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of absolute
Adjective
  • Spector is clearly concerned with the pernicious consequences of technology, its ability to numb emotions and steer people into ideological cul-de-sacs.
    — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 July 2026
  • Relationships often suffer as people withdraw or feel emotionally numb.
    — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Definition of numb
Adjective
  • The species has remained unchanged since prehistoric times, finding ways to survive while other species became extinct, according to the San Diego Zoo.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 16 July 2026
  • There are others still who believe that something like a dragon may have actually existed but went extinct, though there’s no real scientific evidence supporting that.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 15 July 2026
Definition of extinct
Adjective
  • For the better part of a decade, the feud lay relatively dormant.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
  • Aim to water aloe vera about every two to three weeks during summer months and once a month or less when the plant is dormant in winter.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 July 2026
Definition of dormant
Adjective
  • And now Iran has shown US troops face those same dangers around the region – with deadly consequences.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • The war has also affected fertilizer supplies and prices, threatening the planting season and worsening the fate of mostly farming communities in northern Nigeria who have struggled to access their farmlands amid a deadly conflict with armed groups.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 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 21 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dead

Nglish: Translation of dead for Spanish Speakers

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