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as in thick
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily she accused him of being dense when he didn't seem to understand her at first

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dense contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dense are crass, dull, dumb, and stupid. While all these words mean "lacking in power to absorb ideas or impressions," dense implies a thickheaded imperviousness to ideas.

too dense to take a hint

When can crass be used instead of dense?

The words crass and dense can be used in similar contexts, but crass suggests a grossness of mind precluding discrimination or delicacy.

a crass, materialistic people

When might dull be a better fit than dense?

While the synonyms dull and dense are close in meaning, dull suggests a slow or sluggish mind such as results from disease, depression, or shock.

monotonous work that leaves the mind dull

When would dumb be a good substitute for dense?

The meanings of dumb and dense largely overlap; however, dumb applies to an exasperating obtuseness or lack of comprehension.

too dumb to figure out what's going on

When is it sensible to use stupid instead of dense?

The words stupid and dense are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stupid implies a slow-witted or dazed state of mind that may be either congenital or temporary.

stupid students just keeping the seats warm
stupid with drink

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 dense But the destruction intensified with the ground forces, who fought Hamas fighters in close combat in dense areas. Abdel Kareem Hana, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025 But the Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously denied the development because the designs were not dense enough. Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 21 Jan. 2025 Pastries are typically dense in carbohydrates and lack essential nutrients like protein, fiber, and vitamins. Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 20 Jan. 2025 Arnold told the Statesman by phone that the cottages are more dense than other single-family homes and sit on smaller lots, keeping costs down for builders and future residents alike. Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 12 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for dense 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dense
Adjective
  • This move aims to provide a more suitable environment for appreciating Da Vinci's masterpiece, allowing more focused and comfortable viewings away from the crowded gallery that houses other Venetian masterworks.
    Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
  • And while there’s an elegance to a simple hug or a wink, contestants who play it safe risk not making a strong impression in a crowded field.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • To make a quick raspberry compote, mix 2 cups of frozen raspberries with 1/4 cup of raspberry jam and cook over medium heat until thick.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Clad in a thick fur coat, Alaskan sled-dog musher Gunnar Kaasen stood next to the hero of the moment: Balto, a Siberian husky who’d helped deliver medicine across a frozen frontier to halt a deadly epidemic.
    David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The couture season is in full swing in Paris, but Milan has already moved on and is looking ahead to what promises to be a packed fashion week next month.
    Sandra Salibian, WWD, 28 Jan. 2025
  • As hosts of the trip, Simone and Cecil have planned a packed itinerary, starting with a kayaking relay race.
    Shelby Stewart, Essence, 27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Now that era is over, the pendulum is starting a slow swing back toward maximalism.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2025
  • The fires have highlighted the slow disaster of the region’s aridification — and the challenges even the most committed environmentalist politicians face amid climate change.
    Sammy Feldblum, The Dial, 30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The pose also stretches the piriformis muscle, a small muscle deep in the buttocks that can cause sciatic pain when tight.
    Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 3 Feb. 2025
  • This is the type of game — tight, tense, away from home — that Tottenham Hotspur never win.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Republicans have blasted Democrats over the years for talking down to people, with several arguing the average voter does not like to feel stupid.
    Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Feb. 2025
  • That’s the one thing that gets me is when my players are hurt on stupid plays like that.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Taller roses and taller plants are best placed in the back of the border, miniatures and compact roses along pathways and groundcover roses on a hillside or steep slope.
    Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025
  • For example, there are compact cultivars of panicle hydrangeas, ninebarks and junipers.
    Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.
    Daniel Jackson, Allure, 18 July 2017
  • Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.
    Andy Benoit, The MMQB, 10 July 2017

Thesaurus Entries Near dense

Cite this Entry

“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dense. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dense

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