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Definition of deadnext
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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
Maybe next week, a bald eagle will fall dead out of the sky and splat right on the White House lawn. Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025 Perilous Voyages More than 5,100 Rohingya have taken boats to leave Myanmar and Bangladesh between January and early November this year, with nearly 600 people reported dead or missing, according to data from the UN Refugee Agency. Reuters, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Adverb
However, the 49ers came into the game ranked dead last in sacks, with 16, while missing Nick Bosa and first-round pick Mykel Williams to ACL tears. Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 15 Dec. 2025 The Mavericks arrived at Ball Arena ranked dead last in offense, only to shoot 52% from 3-point range and score 54 points in the paint. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 2 Dec. 2025
Noun
As governments separately attempt to get to the bottom of both attacks, the citizens of Delhi and Islamabad are left cleaning up the debris and mourning their dead. Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 12 Nov. 2025 Four people were arrested in Conway on Tuesday in relation to a Saturday shooting that left a 17-year-old dead, a news release from Conway police says. Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dead
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead
Adjective
  • The alleged perpetrator was hit and is deceased.
    WCCO Staff, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The victims were Kato Allen Perez, born in 1992, who was previously known to be deceased; Nikko Lee Perez, who was born in 1996; Mika Alena Perez, who was born in 1995; a second Nikko Lee Perez, who was born in 1997; and Kato Krow Perez, born in 2001.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Hoover finished 319 yards on 34-of-50 passing, but his two turnovers were critical mistakes that led to TCU’s slow start in the first half.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Nov. 2025
  • When visiting the exhibit, plan on taking your time to make the most of it, or what the American Federation of Arts calls slow looking.
    Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The first turned a fourth-quarter fumble into a 59-yard score when Achane burst through a tired, and seemingly defeated Buffalo defensive front and outsprinted the Bills’ entire secondary to the end zone.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
  • But that feels like a tired, outdated characterisation.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Those bright white tees seem to be absolute stain magnets attracting coffee drips, spaghetti sauce spots, and salad dressing splashes.
    Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Since a steamy cup of hot cocoa by your in-room fireplace is an absolute must, coffee bar stations are stocked with an assortment of artisan mixes by Sorrento, along with herbal teas and coffee.
    Jennie Nunn, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Like, like my legs are going numb.
    Outside Online, Outside Online, 7 Jan. 2026
  • On my knees, my hands zip-tied behind me, my fingers and feet quickly grew numb.
    Emily Wilder, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • Many hominids went extinct during this period, and being able to consume alcohol without adverse and/or toxic effects would have conferred a survival advantage.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
  • In 2017, winter steelhead populations at Oregon’s Willamette Falls seemed almost certain to soon go extinct, Michael Brown, the marine-mammal program leader at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, told me.
    Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • As the mercury plummets and back-to-work blues set in for much of humankind in the UK, many other creatures are cosily spending winter in a blissfully dormant state of hibernation.
    Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Cornerbacks Kristian Fulton and Nohl Williams were among the Chiefs’ best players for a second consecutive week as both helped shut down a dormant Raiders pass game.
    Jesse Newell, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The Burbank Police Department also shared a security camera video from the deadly shootout.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Rock jetties can be deadly in such conditions, stay off the rocks.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dead. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on dead

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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