1
as in crowded
having little space between items or parts
the dense soil in the garden
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in thick
not having or showing an ability to absorb ideas readily
she accused him of being dense when he didn't seem to understand her at first
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 dense
The park has incredibly diverse terrain—coastal sand dunes, dense forests, meandering rivers, barrier islands—and fauna such as moose, beavers, and river otters.
—
Steve Lyons, AFAR Media, 20 Mar. 2025
Its key appeal comes from its historic center, a dense, buzzy neighborhood that’s full of cafés, restaurants, boutiques, churches, supermarkets, businesses, hotels, homes, and more.
—Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Head to Mill Creek Lake to kayak or fish for bass, bluegill, crappie, and trout in a sunny spot that’s surrounded by imposing cliffs and a dense forest.
—Casey Barber, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2025
For example, a 2022 survey of COVID-ventilation measures in U.S. public-school districts found that only about a quarter of them used or planned to use HEPA filters, which have a dense mesh for trapping particles, for indoor air.
—Roxanne Khamsi, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dense
Steve Lyons, AFAR Media, 20 Mar. 2025
Its key appeal comes from its historic center, a dense, buzzy neighborhood that’s full of cafés, restaurants, boutiques, churches, supermarkets, businesses, hotels, homes, and more.
—Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Head to Mill Creek Lake to kayak or fish for bass, bluegill, crappie, and trout in a sunny spot that’s surrounded by imposing cliffs and a dense forest.
—Casey Barber, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2025
For example, a 2022 survey of COVID-ventilation measures in U.S. public-school districts found that only about a quarter of them used or planned to use HEPA filters, which have a dense mesh for trapping particles, for indoor air.
—Roxanne Khamsi, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dense
Adjective
-
In New Jersey, the primary field is much more crowded for candidates in both parties.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2025
-
Tripadvisor recommends visiting in spring or fall when the weather is mild but the beach is less crowded.—
Brittany Anas,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Unfortunately, last April’s total solar eclipse was a bust for me, and the U.K.’s weather tends to be uncooperative for celestial events, often hiding them behind thick clouds.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
29 Mar. 2025
-
The open-faced turkey sandwich, traditionally served warm on a thick slice of toast with bacon, tomatoes, and Mornay sauce, is a headliner on the Bluegrass State’s long list of culinary contributions.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Even with a packed schedule, Freeman prioritizes self-care.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Even with a packed schedule, carve out one-on-one time with each child and provide undivided attention.—
Friends of Karen,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The shark’s slow movement may have allowed the octopus to stay latched on, but if the mako had picked up speed, the octopus likely would have been forced off.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Faster hard drives will tend to make more noise than slower ones.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
In the hands of a demonstrator familiar with this track’s tight corners, the car is capable of nausea-inducing changes of direction thanks to its ability to pull 1G laterally.—
James Morris,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Denver is in the midst of a tight battle within the Western Conference standings.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
His is a sort of erudite buffoonery that consistently tap-dances between clever, self-aware, and patently stupid.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Each of them loses track of a CD filled with secrets, and some end up dying in the stupidest possible ways because of their incompetence.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Yixian Travel Pill Organizer $6 at Amazon Rachel Schultz introduced us to the Yixian Travel Pill Organizer, a compact case that keeps all your medications sorted in one place.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Mar. 2025
-
This compact design means they can be more easily integrated into existing environments without requiring special infrastructure.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
-
Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Cite this Entry
“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dense. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share