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 The tree has a dwarf, symmetrical columnar growth form with dense branching. Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2025 Radar scans of the hill revealed a dense concentration of ancient ruins buried below: the remnants of a 2,300-year-old city. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 24 June 2025 From dense, intensely aromatic reds to delicate whites, from sparkling to still, from sweet to fortified, there is a wine here that will suit any palate. Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 In addition, most microlensing efforts are recorded at the Galactic Center -- the densest part of the Milky Way, Edita Stonkutė, an associate professor of astronomy at Vilnius University, said in a statement. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for dense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dense
Adjective
  • Doubs will attempt to do that in a crowded wide receiver room where Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks return, and rookies Matthew Golden and Savion Williams could be immediate contributors.
    Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Hernandez said she is focused on winning her own reelection bid in a crowded field.
    Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • Lots of Rules, Lots of Cash Rules governing property and building codes are thick and can be incomprehensible to most homeowners.
    Andrew Wimer, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Still the aftertaste of raspberry filling clings to her soft palate, as thick and heady and floral as menstrual blood.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Between the pending legislative votes, Powell speaking and the jobs data, there is quite a bit packed into just three-and-a-half days of trading (markets are only open for half a day on Thursday).
    JJ Kinahan, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • The actual stove unit also collapses into smaller packed form.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Now, in the new study, researchers have gathered data that supports the theory that the demise of tropical forests, and their slow recovery, limited carbon sequestration – a process where carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and held in plants, soils or minerals.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 5 July 2025
  • Forecasters at the National Weather Service said there was the potential for additional catastrophic flooding and heavy rainfall in the region throughout Saturday, given the storm’s slow craw across the state.
    Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • The timeline is tight—most growth drivers need to materialize before 2028—but the groundwork is established.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • Steer clear of harsh chemicals and tight hairstyles to prevent further hair loss.
    Health, Health, 26 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
Adjective
  • The Lotus bench is pretty compact and, when its main compartment is closed, doesn’t even look like it’s intended for storage.
    Sara Coughlin, SELF, 26 June 2025
  • Beats Pill Deals The new Beats Pill is compact, water-resistant, and loud enough to hold its own at a backyard hang or beach day.
    Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • Mexican men were dismissed as violent Panchos and stupid Pedros.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
  • There’s more stupid romance around harder substances but few chemicals are more hazardous to ambition than THC.
    Benjamin Hale June 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dense. Accessed 8 Jul. 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!