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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
a long day of traveling left them just dead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in absolute
having no exceptions or restrictions
there was a dead silence following that incredibly moving performance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in numb
lacking in sensation or feeling
my foot was dead after I absentmindedly sat on it for an hour
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in extinct
no longer existing
the dead Babylonian culture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment
local coal mines that have been dead for years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in deadly
of, relating to, or suggestive of death
fell into a dead faint upon hearing the news
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in barren
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
the dead wastes of the far country to the west
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in straight
in a direct line or course
the finish line is dead ahead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in completely
to a full extent or degree
I'm dead certain that's the one I want
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in death
the state of being dead
it's impossible to raise someone from the dead
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025
The names of the man and woman found dead inside of the home have not been released.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2025
Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2025
With the Chicago Blackhawks dead last in the standings, general manager Kyle Davidson will likely spend more time over the next months evaluating draft prospects and taking calls leading up to the March 7 deadline.
—Scott Powers, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025
Most of the Russian dead are soldiers, while civilians make up a large part of Ukrainian death.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dead
Adjective
First responders pulled Boutwell out of the car and realized another person was dead under the vehicle, according to the sheriff, who added that the person who shot Boutwell is responsible for Jones’ death as well.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025
The names of the man and woman found dead inside of the home have not been released.
—Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 12 May 2025
Adverb
Entering last season, the Tigers had averaged about a ninth-place finish in punt return yards since joining the SEC in 2012, including 2023, when Mizzou finished dead last.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2025
With the Chicago Blackhawks dead last in the standings, general manager Kyle Davidson will likely spend more time over the next months evaluating draft prospects and taking calls leading up to the March 7 deadline.
—Scott Powers, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
Collecting the bodies For nearly three days, corpses littered the streets of Pine village, after villagers said fighters forbade them from collecting their dead, according to three of the locals CNN spoke to.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025
Most of the Russian dead are soldiers, while civilians make up a large part of Ukrainian death.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead
Adjective
-
All four were pronounced deceased at the scene as a result of blunt force injuries sustained in the crash, Allmon said.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Coogler never knew his grandfather; his great-uncle is now also deceased, but as a youth Coogler spent a lot of time with him.—
Jelani Cobb,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The non-violent struggle for freedom is a slow but steady process.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
5 May 2025
-
The restrictions have helped slow condo sales statewide, especially of units in older buildings.—
Greg Allen,
NPR,
3 May 2025
Adjective
-
At this point in the Trump show, the famously unpredictable president seems to be following a script as tired as any other long-running, low-brow procedural.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
5 May 2025
-
He’s grown tired of being optioned back and forth from the minor leagues.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Adjective
-
Loyalty and Centralized Power Imperial China placed immense value on absolute loyalty to the emperor.—
Frank Lavin,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
-
Between these six players, Toronto and Florida have some of the absolute best players in the world going head-to-head.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Adjective
-
Similarly, the seat was quite firm and left us numb after longer runs.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
-
And then all of a sudden, my lips go completely numb.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Back in 1998, Dixon revived a species feared to be extinct: the Corrigin grevillea.—
Katarina Zimmer,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 May 2025
-
In 1969 the Cuyahoga River caught fire, an oil spill in Santa Barbara fouled miles of beach and the bald eagle was nearly extinct.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
Take a cutting a few inches long with several leaves to include a node (that brown bumpy thing which is a dormant growing point where the stem meets the leaf).—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
9 May 2025
-
Shingles develops in people who have previously had chicken pox, a virus that remains dormant in the body after acute infections clear up and can be reactivated later in life.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
8 May 2025
Adjective
-
Hurricanes Beryl and Milton were also deadly, each killing more than 40 people in the United States.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
-
Treatment and prognosis Glioblastoma is among the deadliest cancers, with patients living for an average of just over a year after diagnosis.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
3 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead. Accessed 16 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share