1
as in deceased
no longer living
I inherited this heirloom from my dead great-grandfather
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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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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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as in death
the state of being dead
it's impossible to raise someone from the dead
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dead
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
He was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Jan. 2026
In the episode's opening scene, Alice keeled over on the organ keys, dead-eyed, with her tongue hanging out.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2025
Four people were arrested in Conway on Tuesday in relation to a Saturday shooting that left a 17-year-old dead, a news release from Conway police says.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dead
Adjective
Epstein was found dead in his jail cell six months later.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
He was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident.
—Andrew Adeolu, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
Adverb
The presser came on the heels of the firing of first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after a porous season defensively that put the Cowboys dead-last in points allowed and 30th in total yards allowed across the NFL.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Jan. 2026
In the episode's opening scene, Alice keeled over on the organ keys, dead-eyed, with her tongue hanging out.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
As governments separately attempt to get to the bottom of both attacks, the citizens of Delhi and Islamabad are left cleaning up the debris and mourning their dead.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2025
Four people were arrested in Conway on Tuesday in relation to a Saturday shooting that left a 17-year-old dead, a news release from Conway police says.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead
Adjective
-
The Kankakee Sheriff's Office said just before noon, deputies arrived at The Line bar near the Illinois-Indiana state line along Route 114 for reports of a possibly deceased person.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
-
At the time of the back-and-forth with the daughter of disgraced and deceased media baron Robert Maxwell, Wasserman was married and his then-wife was pregnant with their first child.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The studio believes that February, once seen as a slow month for moviegoing, has become a much more lucrative corridor to release films.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
-
What was once a slow squeeze has become an acute system failure for patients statewide.—
Andrew Hevesi,
New York Daily News,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
While a few icons have grown tired (like the Fontainebleau Miami Beach and Eden Roc Miami Beach, missing from this list), several have recently poured money into renovations, including the Mayfair House and Gardens; Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, which just reopened; and the Delano Miami.—
Devorah Lev-Tov,
Robb Report,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Bell remembered during the Stars on Ice tour in 2022 when the skaters rolled into a new city, tired, groggy and sore from the long bus ride, Liu, dressed in a baggy hoodie and billowing sweatpants, could go on the ice and throw perfect jumps without warning.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The weight of Kelly’s control over Landfair’s life was absolute.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
-
There have been countless examples of bizarre true crimes dramatized for television, but this is a particularly strong entry, anchored by a trio of great performances (Christina Hendricks makes an absolute meal out of her supporting role).—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Following a lip lift, swelling and bruising can last two to three weeks and the area may feel firm, tight, tingly, or numb for up to three months.—
Jolene Edgar,
Allure,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Body tissue is damaged, and extremities like fingers, toes, ear lobes and the tip of the nose can become numb and appear white or pale.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Declaring a species extinct requires strong evidence that the last individual has died.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Monk seals, once widespread on the Florida coast, are now extinct.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
If 2026 is 2016 all over again, the spontaneous girl who’s been dormant in me for a decade couldn’t be more thrilled.—
Marianne Mychaskiw,
Allure,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Yet the magic of Bisate Reserve extends far beyond the misty mountains—from stunning nature trails on breathtaking vistas, to a soulful trek to the former research station of legendary conservationist Dian Fossey, and the chance to climb a dormant volcano.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Martinez and another man were charged in October with assault with a deadly weapon, accused of following the agents' vehicles and initiating the collision with Exum's SUV that led to the shooting on Chicago's south side.—
James Hill,
ABC News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The January 29, 2025, collision was the deadliest commercial aviation accident in the United States in the last 16 years.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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