1
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

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 Overdoing it on the mixing, even by hand, can result in flat, tough, or dense cookies. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025 The explosion in new construction projects was also allowed by the fact that the Austin city government has made building new apartments easier in recent years, rewriting zoning laws, cutting parking requirements, and encouraging dense, walkable development. Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025 La Jolla Walk-In Campsite The La Jolla Walk-In Campsite is a small campground in dense chaparral in Point Mugu State Park in the Santa Monica Mountains. Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025 Instead, my family spent time idling in a hammock under a dense canopy of trees, napping in the dappled sunshine. Hasina Jeelani, Vogue, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for dense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dense
Adjective
  • At least nine of the 25 arrested have landed in immigration detention — scattered across the country from a crowded lockup in Miami to a facility in a sleepy Texas railway town to a confinement in a Pacific Northwest port city overlooked by Mount Rainier.
    Hannah Critchfield, Sun Sentinel, 29 May 2025
  • In crowded markets, differentiation often comes from the interface, not the engine.
    Abdo Riani, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • Its thick plastic outer casing is impervious to flex.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 28 May 2025
  • Look for thicker, buttery formulas with intense moisture.
    Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 27 May 2025
Adjective
  • Now, Coral Springs, considered a suburb of Fort Lauderdale but attracting Miami commuters as well, is a packed city with plenty of culture, recreation and business.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
  • The collision, which took place in a packed city center as fans were celebrating Liverpool F.C. winning the English Premier League, injured 65 people, including four children.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 27 May 2025
Adjective
  • Still, even if the growth is slower than in some North American leagues, European teams continue to appreciate.
    Justin Teitelbaum, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • The solution to getting those who may be slower to embrace AI isn’t to push them harder, but to coach them and consider their backgrounds.
    Greg Edwards, The Conversation, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • Trump’s new team, new strategy With Leo sidelined, Trump’s judicial nominations are now being shaped by a tighter circle of aides and outside activists.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 June 2025
  • The Black family is among those at two of Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s largest high schools, Ardrey Kell and Myers Park, facing tight guest limits at graduation ceremonies this year due to a venue change from the Spectrum Center to the smaller Bojangles Coliseum.
    Nora O’Neill, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • This is just stupid how successful this is, but that’s really underselling it.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2025
  • Camp, stupid, joyful—to both own and access—Labubu has taken over.
    Lara Johnson-Wheeler, Vogue, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • Signature styles under his tenure include baggy, barrel-legged jeans and the compact Puzzle handbag.
    USA Today, USA Today, 3 June 2025
  • Read on for compact desk options from some of our favorite retailers in a variety of styles, including midcentury secretary desks, laptop styles, minimalist ladder options that attach to the wall, and more.
    Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 3 June 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dense. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on dense

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!