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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 extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 Apr. 2025 The goal of a windbreak is not to block out all the wind by planting in a dense, linear way. Pamela Noensie, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2025 The guys play too many matches and Didier can be a bit dense -- like denying a request for a couple weeks off to move to another country. Tom Williams, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025 This hot, dense state of matter consisting of the innermost building blocks of protons and neutrons, is believed to have filled the universe nearly 14 billion years ago, just microseconds after the Big Bang. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dense
Adjective
  • This sustainable approach stems from her upbringing in a crowded household with three siblings.
    Pooja Shah, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The most crowded trade in April was gold, according to Bank of America’s survey, breaking a two-year streak of the most crowded trade being the Magnificent Seven tech stocks.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • These Steve Madden platform sneakers feature thick, cushioned soles that provide extra height without sacrificing comfort.
    Jené Luciani Sena, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • In the center of the group stood a tall woman with long, thick hair, an easy smile, and a very pregnant midsection.
    Danielle Pergament, Allure, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The Little Gay Shop also keeps a packed roster of events, including author talks, signings, and multiple monthly book clubs.
    Nico Lang, Them., 21 Apr. 2025
  • Thomas and Novak pulled away from a packed leaderboard on Sunday, and battled it out down the stretch.
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The company reaffirmed plans to launch an affordable model in early 2025, but warned the production ramp could be slower than expected.
    Akash Sriram and Abhirup Roy, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The last two years have been incredibly slow, with existing home sales at their lowest levels since the mid-1990s.
    Laurel Wamsley, NPR, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Tour demands that players lift up their floors — and flaws — in tight moments.
    Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
  • For smaller companies or those operating with tight budgets, these costs can seem prohibitive, especially when the return on investment (ROI) is uncertain or far beyond the headlights.
    Tim Houlne, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Making stupid internet fodder has never been easier than now, with the prevalence of AI image generators making everything from deepfakes to memes.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Much like the stupid prions wreaking havoc in his brain.
    David Oliver, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Deftly applying four or more bold and contrasting colors in a compact room, her interiors pack a serious punch while still feeling comfortable and inviting.
    Dan Howarth, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Their shape changed from a compact 4-4-1-1 to one where all their outfielders bar Rudiger, Asencio and Fran Garcia pushed forward to overload Barcelona’s midfield and defence.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 28 Apr. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dense. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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