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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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dead

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adverb

dead

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noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Though that means the matter isn’t totally dead and could be refiled, Weinstein’s L.A. legal team took the stance that this was over and done. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 17 Feb. 2025 Flooding takes toll:At least 10 dead in Southeast as extreme weather sweeps nation Developments: ◾ Over a hundred daily record lows could be set through the Midwest on Tuesday through Friday. John Bacon, USA TODAY, 17 Feb. 2025
Adverb
That question was largely answered after a rollercoaster season that saw Williams and the Bears rank dead last in yards per game. Justin Kaufmann, Axios, 6 Jan. 2025 Wicks has caught just 10 of his 29 targets, a catch rate of just 34.5% which ranks dead last among players with at least 25 targets. Rob Reischel, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
Noun
But one vital character in the unfinished opus that is the life of Donald J. Trump will not be attending — the long-time dead Roy Marcus Cohn. Greg Marotta, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2025 Interestingly, Ukrainian soldiers said, the North Koreans try to remove their dead and wounded from the battlefield, which is different from the Russians. Marc Santora, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead
Adjective
  • Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security consultation, a decision will be made on the continuation of the process, including the return of deceased hostages in this stage of the exchange, an Israeli political source said.
    Jon Haworth, ABC News, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Luigi Mangione's Extended Family and Relatives Luigi Mangione's grandparents are deceased.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • While there, we were met with a slower pace of life, more affordable off-season rates, and fewer crowds.
    Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2025
  • The cut is also gaining ground on the Adult Contemporary chart, only at a much slower pace, which is not unusual for that list.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • In the skincare world, the best retinol serums are put on a pedestal, touted for their ability to breathe new life into tired, aging skin.
    Denise Primbet, Glamour, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Research has also found long-term exposure can result in anemia, which can leave patients feeling weak and tired; a low white blood cell count, which debilitates the immune system; and a low platelet count, which leads to excessive bleeding and bruising.
    Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • During the English-comprehension section, which requires absolute silence, air-traffic control suspends all takeoffs and landings.
    Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Stats TFLs 7 Sacks 5 QB hits 10 Pressure rate 14.2% Snap rate 47.4% Eagles DT Tier 1 5 Chris Godwin Age: 29 Height: 6-1 Weight: 209 Godwin was on an absolute heater through seven games of 2024 and en route to a career year before a gruesome ankle dislocation ended his season and required surgery.
    Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Dedra Simpson isn’t numb to the New Year’s Day tragedy.
    Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Feb. 2025
  • The Columbia Moisture-control Crew Socks are perfect for keeping your toes warm and dry during outdoor adventures without worrying about numb toes.
    Michelle Polizzi, Travel + Leisure, 29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • There, those who live along the border, which is reinforced by not one but three walls, are pushed, after a food crisis, to reanimate and eat extinct species—a process later appropriated by the superrich, for more voyeuristic amusements.
    David L. Ulin, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2025
  • This lineage once ruled the food chain in the time after dinosaurs went extinct, preying on primates, early hippos, early elephants and hyraxes, but were later wiped out themselves.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The study also speculated potential future Alzheimer’s problems may arise from the COVID-19 pandemic as SARS-CoV-2 infections have been known to reactivate dormant VSV and HSV-1 infections.
    Rich Haridy, New Atlas, 25 Feb. 2025
  • By targeting the root cause, that is dormant hair follicles, the treatment has a more complete effect as opposed to what is currently being offered, which only slows down the process of hair loss.
    Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The deadly blaze erupted Saturday just before 2 p.m. near Fenwick Street, officials told WFSB-TV.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Armed gangs now control approximately 80 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, carrying out kidnappings, extortion, and deadly clashes with security forces.
    Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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