deadwood

noun

dead·​wood ˈded-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce deadwood (audio)
Synonyms of deadwoodnext
1
: wood dead on the tree
2
: useless personnel or material
3
: solid timbers built in at the extreme bow and stern of a ship when too narrow to permit framing
4
: bowling pins that have been knocked down but remain on the alley

Synonyms of deadwood

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Examples of deadwood in a Sentence

She's determined to get the deadwood out of the company. a healthy tree with no deadwood
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
When removing any deadwood, cut just above the branch collar. — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 18 Jan. 2026 The lawsuit states that the branch fell from a tree that was clearly unhealthy, decayed and had deadwood. — Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025 Wildcard can be used right before this period to restructure your squad toward players who will feature heavily in the upcoming doubles and to free up deadwood. — Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026 The wild mushrooms enjoy a symbiotic relationship with deadwood. — Midwest Living, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deadwood

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deadwood was in 1577

Rhymes for deadwood

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Browse Nearby Words

deadweight ton
deadwood
Deadwood
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Cite this Entry

“Deadwood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deadwood. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

deadwood

noun
dead·​wood -ˌwu̇d How to pronounce deadwood (audio)
1
: wood that is dead on a tree
2
: useless material or unproductive persons

Geographical Definition

Deadwood

geographical name

Dead·​wood ˈded-ˌwu̇d How to pronounce Deadwood (audio)
city in the Black Hills of western South Dakota that was settled circa 1876 following the discovery of gold nearby population 1270

More from Merriam-Webster on deadwood

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about deadwood

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