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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 Most of the concerns from City Council members who voted no were in line with residents’ comments that the development was too dense and took away farmland, and that the city wasn’t ready for the growth barreling toward it. Nick Rosenberger, Idaho Statesman, 4 June 2025 In short, the circuits turned red and the smoke was dense. Bruce Yandle, Twin Cities, 3 June 2025 Animals store energy in fat, which is extraordinarily energy dense: nearly 9 kilowatt-hours per kilogram. James Pikul, The Conversation, 2 June 2025 Key lime pie purists like my mom won’t hear of recipes with cream cheese or sour cream—an authentic Florida key lime pie should be silky and custard-like, not dense or cheesecake-y, and doesn’t require baking. Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 31 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for dense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dense
Adjective
  • Polling has shown that Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot who represents the state's 11th Congressional District, leads the crowded Democratic field, but the race could still be anyone’s to win.
    Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 10 June 2025
  • The warm-water experiences tend to be the most crowded, popular for their respiratory and joint pain relief.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • In her papers, there were thick scrapbooks of Christmas cards, many from fellow-celebrities—Berg clearly adored Christmas.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
  • Jane is heard asking the male escort to wear a condom, but is interrupted by Combs, whose voice appears thick and slurred, as music pulsed in the background.
    Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2025
Adjective
  • Miley Cyrus premiered her Something Beautiful visual album for a packed audience at New York’s Beacon Theatre as part of the 2025 Tribeca Festival.
    Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 7 June 2025
  • Or, in the case of Stray Kids and their STAY, when eight Korean artists share three hours with a multitude of devoted fans in a packed stadium.
    Jae-Ha Kim, Rolling Stone, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • Despite the retirement of highly successful Atlas and Delta launch vehicles, the transition to Vulcan has been slow and continues to impact the completion of Space Force mission objectives.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2025
  • Here in Croatia, the pace of life is slower, especially in smaller towns.
    Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • The realization was emotional as the two had developed a tight bond.
    Angela Andaloro, People.com, 3 June 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • Camp, stupid, joyful—to both own and access—Labubu has taken over.
    Lara Johnson-Wheeler, Vogue, 31 May 2025
  • This is just stupid how successful this is, but that’s really underselling it.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 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

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Cite this Entry

“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dense. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.

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