1
as in crowded
having little space between items or parts
the dense soil in the garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dense
Nestled in the heart of the dense markets is a soccer field named after Bernardo Manolete Hernández, a renowned Mexican soccer player born in the neighborhood.
—
Megan Janetsky,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
The overall density of the subdivision would be roughly 4 units per acre, with larger lots on the development’s western side and smaller, denser homes clustered along the development’s east.
—
Rose Evans
updated June 23,
Idaho Statesman,
23 June 2026
This means dense lanes of intervening galactic dust block our view, significantly dimming Terzan 5's apparent brightness.
—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
22 June 2026
Bright, direct sun or dense shade will damage many varieties, though some—like royal ferns and cinnamon ferns—grow well with direct sunlight.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dense
Megan Janetsky,
Fortune,
23 June 2026
The overall density of the subdivision would be roughly 4 units per acre, with larger lots on the development’s western side and smaller, denser homes clustered along the development’s east.
—
Rose Evans
updated June 23,
Idaho Statesman,
23 June 2026
This means dense lanes of intervening galactic dust block our view, significantly dimming Terzan 5's apparent brightness.
—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
22 June 2026
Bright, direct sun or dense shade will damage many varieties, though some—like royal ferns and cinnamon ferns—grow well with direct sunlight.
—
Sj McShane,
Martha Stewart,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for dense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dense
Adjective
-
The Heat will be looking for spacers to put around Antetokounmpo, who might already be dealing with crowded driving lanes because Bam Adebayo is his new frontcourt partner.
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The nominees for the 2026 ESPYs are out, with New York Knicks hero Jalen Brunson leading a crowded lineup of sports stars for this year’s installment of the award show.
Adjective
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The fire initially grew into a huge inferno, creating a pillar of thick, black smoke that could be seen for miles.
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That thick, ugly vein, the shrimp feeling, was gone.
Adjective
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The restaurant's staff is expecting a packed house, with close to 300 people projected to join the community celebration.
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For a team that can’t always claim to have the support of the home crowd, this World Cup has seen packed stadiums and high TV ratings.
Adjective
-
The Virgo moon invites you to take a slower pace today.
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The Targaryen civil war has been a bit of a slow burn so far, though both sides of the family have suffered major casualties.
Adjective
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Contrary to what those face-washing commercials from our childhood led us to believe, your skin doesn't need to feel tight or squeaky-clean after cleansing.
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That was a fantastic finish into a tight window.
Adjective
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And the script’s very cute but deeply dumb leading man, Alex (Nico Carney), climbs a flight of stairs toward his best friend’s bedroom door.
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And there are no ego-destroying confrontations with people who know how to do things, who tell you that your idea is dumb.
Adjective
-
Best steam cleaners This compact cleaner can easily clean hard-to-reach areas, thanks to its 15-foot cord and 9-foot hose.
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This top-selling belt bag is compact yet roomy enough for a wallet, keys, and even a Kindle Paperwhite, according to one five-star reviewer.
Adjective
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But even the most perfect Constitution can be undone by the wicked with the help of the bought, the stupid, and the cowardly.
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White can believe Hokit said something stupid and still believe fighters should be allowed to speak for themselves.
Cite this Entry
“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dense. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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