BRAIN-DEAD Synonyms: 161 Similar and Opposite Words

brain-dead

adjective

ˈbrān-ˌded

Definition of brain-dead

as in dumb

not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily it seems like she's always doing some brain-dead thing or another

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 brain-dead The patient was brain-dead, and the procedure, which was performed in China, was a trial, but the organs — from a pig genetically modified to improve compatibility with human immune systems — were not immediately rejected. — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 7 June 2026 Vargas Arellano was in a hospital, brain-dead and comatose for a week before ICE released him, and had contracted COVID-19 at the facility, according to his family and their lawyers, who are suing GEO Group over his death. — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026 The sinus infection had turned into a rare condition known as Pott’s puffy tumor, which left Daniel in a near brain-dead state with no movement in either eye. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 21 May 2026 He was declared brain-dead that day and taken off life support two days later. — City News Service, Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brain-dead

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brain-dead

Adjective

And that's exactly where Glenn was for the second time this season — guilty of the dumbest moment of the week.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
There’s a dumb ending, involving the Bewitched theme and Dennis Rodman discussing the perils of adult illiteracy (sure), but everything before that is pretty fun, including the Bumblebee Man turning into a bumblebee and Lisa into Albert Einstein.

— Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of dumb

Adjective

But also, the audience is not used to people delivering blunt questions — no matter how stupid the answer.

— Jade Tran, Washington Post, 19 Oct. 2026
Pierce and Kember were born in the same place on the same day, a lore-enhancing coincidence too stupid to make up.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of stupid

Adjective

The actor wore a long black leather coat over a simple black tank, paired with straight-leg blue jeans cinched with a leather belt.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
The company played with flexible workdays instead of rigid schedules, clearer windows for collaboration, simpler rules for meetings, better ways to share and document work, and more intentional reasons for coming together in person.

— Deborah Lovich, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of simple

Browse Nearby Words

brainchildren

brain-dead

brained

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Brain-dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brain-dead. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of brain-dead

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes