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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 In the beginning, the Big Bang happened, sending everything in the universe expanding outward and apart, from a dense hot point. Sarah Scoles, JSTOR Daily, 31 July 2025 Although rental costs have soared particularly in denser coastal cities, prices have jumped in Indianapolis too. Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 24 July 2025 It’s already been tested out successfully in dense urban areas. Heather Farmbrough, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025 Towns and counties now have to pick a handful of ways to create denser, cheaper housing and report on their progress every year. Marisa Peñaloza, NPR, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for dense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dense
Adjective
  • That history gives the band an edge—and credibility—in a crowded market.
    Javier Hasse, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Unlike other tests that can take several minutes or require privacy to use, this method is fast and low-profile, perfect for crowded clubs, bars, or house parties.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Each Jesse & Ben’s fry is three-eights of an inch thick.
    Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Add a generous pour of dry white wine around (not on top of) the chicken, and roast for 45 to 55 minutes at 350°F, or until a meat thermometer inserted in the center of one of the thickest pieces of meat reads 145°F.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • This ignores the fact that few moviegoing experiences — massive spectacle included — are as rewarding as watching something funny in a packed theater filled with people laughing at the same time, but that unfortunately is the way things have gone.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025
  • The first concept is a flashier hook, conjuring images of facehuggers wreaking havoc on packed pedestrian thoroughfares.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Three organic meats are on offer for Sunday roast: slow roasted Black Angus, with creamed horseradish; succulent Tamworth Pork with bramley apple sauce and Texel Lamb with a classic mint sauce.
    Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Burrow hopes that feeling the rush and gaining real reps working the pocket will help lessen the impact of opening-week clunkers that contributed to the team’s slow starts.
    Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • When culture starts performing alignment instead of living it, most companies reach for fixes: tighter messaging, new values, more playbooks.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • That’s because of the NFL’s ownership rules, which are tighter than those in other sports.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 14 Aug. 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
Adjective
  • South Korea is compact, dynamic, and steeped in tradition.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The rail project also encourages compact, infill development, preserving farmland and open space.
    Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • No Broward program can possibly be as wasteful and downright stupid as the Office of Election Crimes and Security (OECS).
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2025
  • On the other side of the ledger, Jaguar did a stupid, and seriously WOKE advertisement, THAT IS A TOTAL DISASTER!
    Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dense. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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