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

Turning from Howard Street, drivers could easily think Hamilton is just a squalid dead-end or a route to more decay. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026 Boca Chica Beach is a free, undeveloped eight-mile stretch of Gulf shoreline near Brownsville—the southernmost city in Texas—where Highway 4 dead-ends at the water and SpaceX’s Starbase launch towers loom to the north. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 28 June 2026

Noun

Scientists don’t know why some species seem to adapt well to these changes, while for others polyploidy is a dead end. — Carrie Arnold contributing, Quanta Magazine, 2 Sep. 2026 That is why the search for a perfect definition has always been a dead end. — Jeff Degraff, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dead-end

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead-end

Verb

Dodgers lefty Tanner Scott came to the rescue and struck out Bauers and Yelich to end the inning (and Garrett Mitchell to kick off the seventh).

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
The race starts and ends at The Momentary in Bentonville and two of the three course lengths roll through McDonald County in Missouri.

— Glory Reitz, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of end

Noun

But aspects such as strong characters, emotional investment, aspirational and authentic journeys, contemporary tensions, real moral dilemmas and complex relationships are what keep you there.

— Marta Balaga, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
More broadly, the premiere sets up a deepening of Common Side Effects’ many dilemmas.

— Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of dilemma

Verb

The city’s public works team and its Parks, Recreation and Marine bureau were working to secure it, putting up sandbags and rebuilding the berm to stop water intrusion.

— Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Kodiak says its autonomous system is designed to identify emergency vehicles, stopped vehicles, lane closures and accident scenes.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of stop

Noun

Friday's close was $193, with the 50-day at $187 and the 200-day at $164.

— Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
Zeiler was appointed president of WarnerMedia International in 2020, adding responsibility for Discovery’s international footprint following the close of the Discovery-WarnerMedia merger in April 2022.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of close

Verb

In South Dakota, the ACLU has filed a lawsuit seeking to halt a new law that includes requiring voters registering for the first time to present the most common forms of ID — driver’s licenses, Tribal IDs and non-driver state IDs.

— Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
In South Dakota, the ACLU has filed a lawsuit seeking to halt a new law that includes requiring voters registering for the first time to present the most common forms of ID — driver's licenses, Tribal IDs and non-driver state IDs.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of halt

Noun

The greatest concern is high tide through Sunday morning and swells from the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel could create dangerous conditions with beach erosion and seawater once again flooding beach roads and paths.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
The former Cup champion finished third, overcoming a speeding-on-pit-road penalty and other drama en route to that result.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of road

Browse Nearby Words

deaden

dead-end

dead end

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Dead-end.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead-end. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of dead-end

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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