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• outdated
• out-of-date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

As rightist parties surge across the UK, Labour members are betting on Burnham — who easily won a parliamentary seat last week — to salvage their moribund agenda. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 21 June 2026

It’s expected that an old galaxy will fizzle out over billions of years, but astronomers’ expectations were turned upside down when the James Webb came online in 2022 and observed a whole graveyard of moribund galaxies when the universe was still in its infancy. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 10 June 2026

The Browns are a moribund, bad team that few people other than those who risk severe burns sailing on Lake Erie know anything about. — Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2026

The belief was that bringing in Thomas and Collins — plus a full season from emerging standouts Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen — would shake up the club’s moribund bats. — Jaylon Thompson may 30, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2026