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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 Collard greens are a nutrient-dense green that’s rich in fiber, calcium, vitamin K, and other essential nutrients. Jillian Kubala, Health, 6 Oct. 2025 The lines get thicker and wigglier and curvier, the drawings denser and more explosive, closer to comic artists such as Aline Kominsky-Crumb and Julie Doucet, both of whom DiMassa cites as influences in her interview in the new collection. Jo Livingstone, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025 Clearing dense brush can also reduce competition for light and water, allowing healthy trees to thrive. Jon Stojan, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025 Brem recommends those with dense breast tissue get breast ultrasounds and MRIs in addition to mammograms. Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dense
Adjective
  • Both lie within crowded galaxy clusters, where their jets likely interact with million-degree hot plasma, sculpting these unusual shapes.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
  • OpenAI released its most powerful GPT-5 model in August, aimed at shoring up its lead in an increasingly crowded sphere.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • That thick sole relieves pressure and pain, especially pain associated with conditions like plantar fasciitis.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The smoke was thick enough to cast its own shadows upon the hill.
    Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • All night, as Luzardo posted zero after zero, the packed crowd at Citizens Bank Park was just begging for any semblance of offense from the Phillies.
    Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Through regulation plus 9 minutes of extra time, Republic FC could not find the back of the net in front of a packed house at Cal Expo’s Heart Health Park.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The episodes feel choppy, hardly letting anything land, yet still feeling slow.
    Grace Byron, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The crowd, quietening into a slow clap with the moment building, burst into a celebration.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • So Rizza skipped the presentation format of the past in favor of a tight selection of one-on-one appointments, mostly with retailers.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025
  • And results have largely been mixed since Carson Wentz has taken over as the starter, winning a 48-10 blowout over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3 and then losing a tight game in Ireland against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
    Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • So many of Black Rabbit’s subplots are confusing, boring, or dumb.
    Andrew Bernard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Luis Jauregui, a professor at UC Irvine, is an expert in quantum physics who is smart enough to describe his work in terms that are foreign to a non-scientist, yet affable enough to explain it anyway, without making any non-scientist feel dumb.
    Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Its two pressure settings are powerful enough to clear away plaque without overdoing it, all in a compact design that tucks neatly under the sink or into your carry-on.
    Lily Wohlner, Allure, 2 Oct. 2025
  • By reducing the need for numerous physical sensors, future fusion reactors could become more compact, simpler, and less expensive to build and maintain.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The name-calling and the stupid AI and the imagery has got to stop.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2025
  • These kids are being stupid and absurd and reckless and not thinking about anything other than what’s directly in front of their faces.
    Will Leitch, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dense. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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