dead 1 of 3

adjective

ˈded How to pronounce dead (audio)
Definition of deadnext
1
as in deceased
no longer living I inherited this heirloom from my dead great-grandfather

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2
as in slow
lacking in gaiety, movement, or animation the store is often dead after 4:00 p.m.

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3
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness a long day of traveling left them just dead

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4
as in absolute
having no exceptions or restrictions there was a dead silence following that incredibly moving performance

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5
as in numb
lacking in sensation or feeling my foot was dead after I absentmindedly sat on it for an hour

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6
as in extinct
no longer existing the dead Babylonian culture

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7
as in dormant
not being in a state of use, activity, or employment local coal mines that have been dead for years

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8
as in deadly
of, relating to, or suggestive of death fell into a dead faint upon hearing the news

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9
as in doomed
facing certain defeat, disaster, or death if we don't finish this project on time, we're dead

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10
as in bland
lacking in taste or flavor from the first sip I could tell that the wine hadn't aged well and was pretty much dead

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11
as in barren
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation the dead wastes of the far country to the west

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dead

2 of 3

adverb

1
as in straight
in a direct line or course the finish line is dead ahead

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2
as in completely
to a full extent or degree I'm dead certain that's the one I want

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dead

3 of 3

noun

as in death
the state of being dead it's impossible to raise someone from the dead

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dead contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dead are deceased, defunct, departed, and late. While all these words mean "devoid of life," dead applies literally to what is deprived of vital force but is used figuratively of anything that has lost any attribute (such as energy, activity, radiance) suggesting life.

a dead, listless performance

How does the word deceased relate to other synonyms for dead?

Deceased, departed, and late apply to persons who have died recently. Deceased is the preferred term in legal use.

the estate of the deceased

When is it sensible to use defunct instead of dead?

The words defunct and dead are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, defunct stresses cessation of active existence or operation.

a defunct television series

Where would departed be a reasonable alternative to dead?

The synonyms departed and dead are sometimes interchangeable, but departed is used usually as a euphemism.

our departed sister

When might late be a better fit than dead?

Although the words late and dead have much in common, late is used especially with reference to a person in a specific relation or status.

the company's late president

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 dead
Adjective
Despite lifesaving efforts, the man was later pronounced dead, Weaver said. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026 Dean Riley, 62, was pronounced dead at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise after lifesaving measures were unsuccessful, according to the coroner’s office. — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026
Adverb
The Horned Frogs rank dead last in the Big 12 in rushing offense, 15th in sacks allowed, and their quarterback looks like a player who is losing confidence. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Oct. 2026 Robinhood, which launched its bookrunning business in June, is among 18 banks working on smart-ring maker Oura’s IPO (dead last, but there). — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
Fire crews soon pronounced the driver of the Ram dead at the scene. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 31 July 2026 As family secrets and wounds, resurface the entire neighborhood senses presences and hear the distinctive sounds of their own dead. — John Hopewell, Variety, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead
  1. deceased
  2. slow
  3. tired
  4. absolute
  5. numb
  6. extinct
  7. dormant
  8. deadly
Adjective
  • Two handguns were found at the scene, according to police, who have yet to release the identities of the five deceased individuals.
    — Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The truck driver was not injured and remained on scene, while the rider was transported to Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital and pronounced deceased.
    — Felix Rodriguez, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of deceased
Adjective
  • The song develops into a slow-burn, lighters-up jam, its long, unhurried coda like getting lost in a sea of echoing, overlapping memories.
    — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Protein and fiber slow digestion, supporting satiety and healthy blood sugar regulation.
    — Jillian Kubala, HEALTH, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • Even more popular when, instead of a tired old video tribute — hats off to the Jackets for reading the room on this one — the arena cameras went straight to Marchenko during the next stoppage.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Murray says her own experience has made her more understanding when female colleagues seem more tired or irritable than usual, particularly when the behavior is out of character.
    — Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • The slap on the wrist capped an otherwise strong Celtics debut for the nine-time All-Star, who was putting on an absolute clinic.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The Milanese Suite combines elegance and spaciousness with absolute comfort.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of absolute
Adjective
  • Nobody cheered; after so many years of violence, the crowd seemed numb.
    — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026
  • After nine relocations, baseball fanbases became numb to abandonment, but by 1971, Washington fans who were losing their second franchise in 11 years, had enough.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of numb
Adjective
  • The company has pursued efforts to recreate extinct species, including the dodo and woolly mammoth.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • This crane had nearly gone extinct before, driven in part by an explosion of new hydroelectric dams in the early 20th century, whose construction dried out local wetlands.
    — Sara Herschander, Vox, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of extinct
Adjective
  • The issues may have been lying dormant The vulnerabilities have been known about since at least 2024, according to the PHP Foundation.
    — Kaitlyn Huamani, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • So Hanawalt reactivated her dormant Facebook account and began scrolling through local horse sale groups.
    — Rachel Brodsky, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of dormant
Adjective
  • Police charged 52-year-old Mooresville resident Rod Moskowitz with assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, court records show.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Memories are fresh of the nationwide protests sparked by economic pressures that led to a deadly crackdown weeks before the war.
    — Amir-Hussein Radjy, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of deadly

Phrases Containing dead

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deactivating
dead
deadbeat
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Cite this Entry

“Dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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