moribund

adjective

mor·​i·​bund ˈmȯr-ə-(ˌ)bənd 

ˈmär-

1

: being in the state of dying : approaching death

in the moribund patient deepening stupor and coma are the usual preludes to death

—Norman Cameron

2

: being in a state of inactivity or obsolescence

a moribund virus

a moribund volcano

prune the moribund files from your disk forever

—D. S. Janal

moribundity

ˌmȯr-ə-ˈbən-də-tē 

ˌmär-

noun

Did you know?

Moribund Gets Less Literal

Moribund is still sometimes used in its original literal sense of "approaching death", but it's much more often used to describe things. When the economy goes bad, we hear about moribund mills and factories and towns; the economy itself may even be called moribund. Critics may speak of the moribund state of poetry, or lament the moribund record or newspaper industry.

Synonyms

• dying

Examples of moribund in a Sentence

an actor who is trying to revive his moribund career

The peace talks are moribund.

Recent Examples on the Web

Terry Rozier Role was: To arrive and juice an offense that had grown moribund, as Herro sat and Butler watched. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 July 2024

No one wants to be trapped in that moribund milquetoast normie Christianity. —Sam Kestenbaum, Harper's Magazine, 21 June 2024

After that will be a trip to Miami to face the last-place Marlins, a tough series in the Bronx against the Yankees, and then one last homestand against the moribund Oakland Athletics and the surprising Kansas City Royals, who have emerged as one of Boston’s top competitors in the Wild Card race. —Mac Cerullo, Hartford Courant, 24 June 2024

In the late 1940s, activists began rebuilding the moribund Democratic Party, which drew on two major areas of strength. —Jonathan J. Kasparek, The Conversation, 4 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin moribundus, from mori to die — more at murder

First Known Use

circa 1721, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

moribund

adjective

mor·​i·​bund ˈmȯr-ə-(ˌ)bənd 

ˈmär-

: nearly dead

Medical Definition

moribund

adjective

mor·​i·​bund ˈmȯr-ə-(ˌ)bənd, ˈmär- 

: being in the state of dying : approaching death

in the moribund patient deepening stupor and coma are the usual preludes to death

—Norman Cameron