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
The case rendered the law temporarily moribund, a discredited artifact whose future use would require a complete rehabilitation of its legitimacy.
—Evandro Cruz Silva, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026
And state oil company NNPC is holding talks with independent companies to take over the operation of the government’s moribund refineries, NNPC chief Bayo Ojulari said, including one last week with a Chinese petrochemical plants builder.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
The duo instantly injected life into a moribund franchise.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
At the time, the tech industry warned that this new regulation would drive companies overseas, accelerating the mass withdrawal of capital from an already moribund tech sector and start-up ecosystem.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for moribund
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Evandro Cruz Silva, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026
And state oil company NNPC is holding talks with independent companies to take over the operation of the government’s moribund refineries, NNPC chief Bayo Ojulari said, including one last week with a Chinese petrochemical plants builder.
—Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
The duo instantly injected life into a moribund franchise.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
At the time, the tech industry warned that this new regulation would drive companies overseas, accelerating the mass withdrawal of capital from an already moribund tech sector and start-up ecosystem.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for moribund
Cite this Entry
“Moribund.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moribund. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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
