DEAD END Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

dead-end 1 of 2

verb

ˈded-ˈend

Definition of dead-end

as in to end

to come to an end after several fruitless years, the research seems to have simply dead-ended

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

dead end

2 of 2

noun

as in high road

Related Words

as in dilemma

Related Words

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-end

Verb

So Help Me God’s songs unfurl across five, seven, and even eight minutes, speaking on the perils of not knowing oneself, feeling suffocated by a dead-end relationship, and coaxing out the will to do better. — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026 Time confetti is basically a dead-end street to burnout, Brown adds. — Parents, 13 June 2026

Noun

Soho was already too expensive — landlords were asking for key money in the five-figures — so Mango knew that was a dead end. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 10 June 2026 But the politics of white identity are a dead end. — Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dead-end

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead-end

Verb

Despite an energized crowd, the US fell short against Belgium 4-1, ending a wild run for the host country.

— Doug Duran, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
Romelu Lukaku scored the fourth goal just at the end of stoppage time, and ending the USMNT’s dreams.

— Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026

Definition of end

Noun

Deciding whether to include a second job on your resume is a common dilemma, as hiring managers often disagree on such details.

— Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
As open source models become more capable, governments are going to face a real dilemma about what to do about them.

— Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 2 July 2026

Definition of dilemma

Verb

During the war, as the death toll ticked upward in the enclave, search operations for bodies largely stopped, either because most heavy equipment was destroyed, fuel became scarce or many strike sites became inaccessible due to the fighting.

— Bilal Shbeir, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Curious passersby stopped throughout the day, gazing up at what used to be the Pfizer headquarters building.

— Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 9 July 2026

Definition of stop

Noun

Soon, it will be known if the 54-year-old continues to lead the USMNT as his contract is set to expire after the World Cup comes to a close.

— David Close, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
The United States' run in the 2026 World Cup has come to a close after a 4-1 loss to Belgium on Monday.

— Patricio Chile, ABC News, 6 July 2026

Definition of close

Noun

Hernandez, 29, a contractor based in Franklin, about 20 miles south of Nashville, undertook the $380 project with furniture from HomeGoods after seeing his pet spend most of her life tucked away in a little corner.

— Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Finding this underground hangout might be tricky, but look for the side door on the building at the corner of Georgia Avenue and Reed Street.

— Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of corner

Verb

Attacks on ships — and the threat of them — virtually halted traffic in the waterway during the conflict, causing the price of oil to skyrocket and raising prices on many basic goods, including food, far beyond the region.

— Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Almost two years ago, China’s east coast was smacked by one of the strongest storms in decades, which temporarily halted container operations at both Shanghai and Ningbo ports.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 8 July 2026

Definition of halt

Noun

The size of the frozen zone in which crews are working to stabilize a building in Midtown Manhattan was decreased late Tuesday, but some roads remain blocked.

— Kelly McCleary, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
This can cause loss of control in extreme circumstances, especially when the road conditions aren’t prime.

— Keith Laing, USA Today, 8 July 2026

Definition of road

Browse Nearby Words

deaden

dead-end

dead end

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Style

“Dead-end.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead-end. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of dead-end

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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