moribund
adjective
mor·i·bund
ˈmȯr-ə-(ˌ)bənd 
ˈmär-
1
: being in the state of dying : approaching death
in the moribund patient deepening stupor and coma are the usual preludes to death—
Norman Cameron
Norman Cameron2
: being in a state of inactivity or obsolescence
a moribund virus
a moribund volcano
prune the moribund files from your disk forever—D. S. Janal
D. S. Janal
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Moribund Gets Less Literal
Moribund is still sometimes used in its original literal sense of "approaching death", but it's much more often used to describe things. When the economy goes bad, we hear about moribund mills and factories and towns; the economy itself may even be called moribund. Critics may speak of the moribund state of poetry, or lament the moribund record or newspaper industry.
Examples of moribund in a Sentence
an actor who is trying to revive his moribund career
The peace talks are moribund.
Recent Examples on the Web
Their belief existed because of JuJu Watkins, the hometown hero who brought excellence back to USC basketball and life to a moribund fan base.
—Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer found fresh definition in the transatlantic tumult whipped up by Trump after a moribund start to his term that belied his landslide election win last year.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
The worst team in baseball history, the 121-loss Chicago White Sox of 2024, has a median ticket price of $137, 23rd on the Gametime survey, while the moribund Colorado Rockies charge the same price as the powerful Philadelphia Phillies at $160 apiece (18th on the chart).
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
The Titans continued to invest in their offensive line in hopes of turning around a moribund unit that has plagued the team for several seasons.
—Nate Rau, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moribund
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Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
In Britain, Prime Minister Keir Starmer found fresh definition in the transatlantic tumult whipped up by Trump after a moribund start to his term that belied his landslide election win last year.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025
The worst team in baseball history, the 121-loss Chicago White Sox of 2024, has a median ticket price of $137, 23rd on the Gametime survey, while the moribund Colorado Rockies charge the same price as the powerful Philadelphia Phillies at $160 apiece (18th on the chart).
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
The Titans continued to invest in their offensive line in hopes of turning around a moribund unit that has plagued the team for several seasons.
—Nate Rau, Axios, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moribund
Cite this Entry
“Moribund.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moribund. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
moribund
adjective
mor·i·bund
ˈmȯr-ə-(ˌ)bənd
ˈmär-
: nearly dead
Medical Definition
moribund
adjective
mor·i·bund
ˈmȯr-ə-(ˌ)bənd, ˈmär-
: being in the state of dying : approaching death
in the moribund patient deepening stupor and coma are the usual preludes to death—Norman Cameron
Norman CameronLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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