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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 Open star clusters typically reside in the dense spiral arms of the Milky Way, where the gravity of passing stars can tug at their outermost members, pulling them apart over the course of millions of years. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 17 Aug. 2025 Finally, it is baked into a dense, tangy loaf that resembles French bread. Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2025 The psychological impact of the lockdowns seems to have enhanced the value of alternative locations that exist outside of dense urban environments. Shaun Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025 Urban counties, with dense populations and infrastructure, showed significantly higher vulnerability than rural areas. Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dense
Adjective
  • So, what makes his coaching stand out in a crowded field of mentors and consultants?
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Walker-Yeager, who passed a crowded August primary in two separate races, wants spots on the boards governing the Unified Government and the BPU.
    Sofi Zeman August 21, Kansas City Star, 21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Our relationship has always been thick and strong, even through the thin times.
    Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2025
  • More than ten villages in the Buner region of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province were devastated by flash flooding, and dozens of people are believed to still be trapped under the thick mud and debris.
    Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • How does a star with a packed schedule keep her look secure?
    Meghan Mahar, Billboard, 19 Aug. 2025
  • Woodinville’s close quarters are good for more than a packed wine-tasting itinerary.
    Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • By the looks of it, news of rock music’s slow and painful death under ever-widening pop hegemony is greatly exaggerated.
    Chris R. Morgan, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Satellite: Available almost everywhere but can be slower and affected by weather.
    Kara McGinley, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • When culture starts performing alignment instead of living it, most companies reach for fixes: tighter messaging, new values, more playbooks.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • That’s because of the NFL’s ownership rules, which are tighter than those in other sports.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 14 Aug. 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
Adjective
  • South Korea is compact, dynamic, and steeped in tradition.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The rail project also encourages compact, infill development, preserving farmland and open space.
    Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Jess: The curds themselves are crispy, but the toast is stupid.
    Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 22 Aug. 2025
  • The dialogue wasn’t dumbed down and stupid comic book stuff.
    William Earl, Variety, 20 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dense. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.

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