Synonyms of moribund

moribund

adjective

ˈmȯr-ə-(ˌ)bənd 

1

as in dying

nearly dead

with its run-down look and empty aisles, the grocery store appeared moribund

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dying
• fallen
• dead
• gone
• sinking
• fading
• lifeless
• defunct
• at death's door
• deteriorating
• declining
• deceased
• expiring
• demised
• departed
• decadent
• terminal
• passing away
• passed away

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• alive
• live
• existing
• living
• quick
• breathing
• surviving
• animate
• being
• thriving
• flourishing
• booming
• subsisting
• vital
• lively
• energetic
• roaring
• spirited
• animated
• vivacious
• sprightly
• perky
• prospering
• frisky
• peppy
• bouncing
• springy
• jazzy
• zippy
• sprightful

2

as in obsolete

having passed its time of use or usefulness

youngsters snickering at the moribund slang their parents were using

Synonyms & Similar Words

• obsolete
• archaic
• antiquated
• medieval
• rusty
• prehistoric
• defunct
• old
• outmoded
• extinct
• expired
• outdated
• out-of-date
• useless
• outworn
• fossilized
• superannuated
• dated
• discarded
• neolithic
• ancient
• mossy
• Stone Age
• dead
• passé
• antique
• aging
• obsolescent
• moth-eaten
• disused
• kaput
• historic
• late
• démodé
• vintage
• historical
• unusable
• dormant
• vanished
• demoded
• unworkable
• inactive
• inert
• Noachian
• retro
• venerable
• inoperable
• past
• fusty
• inoperative
• idle
• antediluvian
• aged
• latent
• former
• fallow
• erstwhile
• musty
• hoary
• old-time
• bygone
• old-fashioned
• free
• atavistic
• old-world
• age-old
• dateless
• oldfangled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• modern
• current
• new
• contemporary
• recent
• present-day
• fresh
• up-to-date
• newfangled
• ultramodern
• mod
• modernized
• new-fashioned
• operational
• functional
• up-to-the-minute
• active
• workable
• operating
• functioning
• alive
• renewed
• operative
• busy
• operable
• refurbished
• employed
• remodeled

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of moribund

Competitive bidding among Netflix, Comcast and Paramount ended with only Paramount left standing, and the process revived WBD’s long-moribund stock. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 July 2026

This left the investigations into all three shootings moribund. — Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

First game against Warriors A rookie James’ 29 points were not enough to lift a truly moribund Cavaliers team to victory in his first-ever game against the Warriors. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 2 July 2026

Close attention is paid to the crafting of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the currently moribund system of checks and balances, and that pesky electoral college. — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026