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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

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective dense contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of dense are crass, dull, dumb, and stupid. While all these words mean "lacking in power to absorb ideas or impressions," dense implies a thickheaded imperviousness to ideas.

too dense to take a hint

When can crass be used instead of dense?

The words crass and dense can be used in similar contexts, but crass suggests a grossness of mind precluding discrimination or delicacy.

a crass, materialistic people

When might dull be a better fit than dense?

While the synonyms dull and dense are close in meaning, dull suggests a slow or sluggish mind such as results from disease, depression, or shock.

monotonous work that leaves the mind dull

When would dumb be a good substitute for dense?

The meanings of dumb and dense largely overlap; however, dumb applies to an exasperating obtuseness or lack of comprehension.

too dumb to figure out what's going on

When is it sensible to use stupid instead of dense?

The words stupid and dense are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, stupid implies a slow-witted or dazed state of mind that may be either congenital or temporary.

stupid students just keeping the seats warm
stupid with drink

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
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
  • 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
  • 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
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
  • Don’t confuse grilling with smoking though—the basic difference is smoking is a slow process where food is cooked at low temperatures for a long period while grilling requires high heat applied over a short burst of time.
    Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Plan For Possible Delays: Given the potential for slower processing, apply well before needing benefits.
    Shahar Ziv, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • As the film progresses and the soundproof, indestructible walls of the vehicle close in tighter, the look and feel of the film intensifies and continues to build as Hopkins’ William becomes increasingly psychotic, using the programmed vehicle to, basically, torture its captive.
    Rosemary Rossi, Variety, 22 Mar. 2025
  • But Callender promises the plot didn’t suffer as a result of tighter purse strings.
    Lynette Rice, Deadline, 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

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Cite this Entry

“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dense. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

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