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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 (1)

as in death
the state of being dead it's impossible to raise someone from the dead

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

deadness

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noun (2)

as in dead
the state of being dead the sheer deadness of the corpse was the creepiest thing about it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
During the crash, a 12-year-old girl was ejected from the Compass and was declared dead on the scene. Josh Wood, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Sep. 2025 Medical personnel found the boy with gunshot wounds and pronounced him dead at the scene, according to Atlanta police. Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
Adverb
We clerks spent long hours on perimeter guard because infantry units were dead exhausted when back in from the bush. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 27 July 2025 Belt drives are also dead quiet and have an excellent reputation for longevity, lasting up to three times longer than a chain. Eric Bangeman, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2025
Noun
The Young Bucks hit the TK Driver to Swerve on the outside, leaving Ospreay dead to rights. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for dead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead
Adjective
  • The man then shot himself and was found deceased next to Carroll, per police.
    Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Rescue and medical teams were dispatched to the crash site and found a single engine aircraft with three surviving passengers and a 13-year-old girl who was confirmed deceased on scene.
    Jon Haworth, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Parkinson’s disease primarily affects the nervous system, particularly the brain, causing tremors, stiffness, and slow movement.
    Zach LaChance, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2025
  • Alex Bowman falls three laps down after a slow pit stop.
    Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • For the more formal premiere this evening, Edebiri and her go-to stylist Danielle Goldberg worked with Chanel to conjure up a striking gown that embodied true, Old Hollywood glamour—and not in a stuffy or tired way, but rather, articulating the energy of the most promising and in-demand new stars.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Aug. 2025
  • These slip-ons are ideal for giving your tired feet some love while hanging around a campsite at the end of a long day of hiking.
    Jennifer Heimlich, SELF, 29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Open spaces, huge rooms, and an absolute lack of privacy are all the rage.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
  • After a review, the ACIP decided to focus first on getting the vaccine to people at the absolute highest risk, people 65 and up, a recommendation ultimately accepted by the CDC.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Americans have just grown numb to the disconnect.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Her hands would burn or go numb; her skin glittered with pain.
    Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Wetlands need restoration to impound phosphorus that pours from extinct volcanoes and prevent the growth of deadly algae.
    Debra Utacia Krol, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025
  • However, the findings offer a unique look into the microbiomes of extinct giant animals.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Prior to Pumariega, Demie Mainieri Field had been dormant for 28 years.
    Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
  • The dormant account fee is equivalent to the account balance or $10, whichever is less, but the fee will not overdraw your account.
    Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Hurricane Ian, the deadliest storm to hit the state since 1935, made landfall in late September 2022.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • She was previously charged with CHILD ABUSE, second-degree domestic assault, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony.
    Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.

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