DEAD Synonyms: 518 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

dead 1 of 3

adjective

ˈded

Definition of dead next

as in deceased

no longer living I inherited this heirloom from my dead great-grandfather

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in slow

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

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as in tired

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

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as in absolute

having no exceptions or restrictions there was a dead silence following that incredibly moving performance

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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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as in extinct

no longer existing the dead Babylonian culture

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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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as in deadly

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

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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

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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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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

as in straight

in a direct line or course the finish line is dead ahead

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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

Examples 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

Two Americans are dead after being found shot in a pickup truck in Mexico, officials said. —

Anne Laurent, ABC News, 13 Dec. 2024 Don’t touch sick or dead birds, their feces or litter or any surface or water source (e.g., ponds, waterers, buckets, pans, troughs) that might be contaminated with their saliva, feces, or any other bodily fluids without wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). —

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024

Adverb

The Ravens rank dead last in pass defense despite Marlon Humphrey having a bounce-back year, Kyle Hamilton again playing like an All-Pro and first-round pick Nate Wiggins mostly looking the part. —

The Athletic Nfl Staff, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024 The Magic only made 26.3% of them which ranks dead last. —

Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2024

Noun

For five years, the unclaimed dead of Dallas and Tarrant counties were delivered to the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. —

Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 2 Oct. 2024 With cap-and-trade dead in the Oregon Legislature, Brown had issued an executive order mandating statewide controls on greenhouse gas emissions. —

Mckenzie Funk, ProPublica, 13 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dead

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dead

Adjective

One was found deceased when authorities arrived on the scene, while the other was still breathing and air-lifted to a trauma center in Phoenix.

Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 6 Dec. 2024
Bryar was found deceased in his Tennessee home on Nov. 26, with authorities confirming no foul play was suspected.

Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 3 Dec. 2024