Definition of densenext
1
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

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 Its tendency to rapidly reproduce, forming dense colonies on underwater surfaces, can clog pipes, pumps and critical water infrastructure while disrupting local ecosystems. Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026 Noe Padilla As thousands lay out their tents and picnic blankets in San Francisco's Crissy Field, many are worried that the dense layer of fog sitting over the Golden Gate Bridge may ruin the city's Fourth of July fireworks show. Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026 This picture changed in 1918, when American astronomer Harlow Shapley determined that dense groups of stars called globular clusters are centered on a distant core in the direction of the Sagittarius constellation. Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 July 2026 Inscrutable lines plucked from Nazir’s dense prose were mocked and memed. Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dense
Adjective
  • While alcohol, crowded waterways and heavy holiday traffic all contribute to an increase in emergency calls, fireworks generate the largest share of responses, according to authorities.
    Andrew Graham July 3, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
  • Your personal life could feel crowded, unpredictable and emotionally overwhelming, Scorpio.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Adjective
  • The combination makes strands thicker, fuller, stronger, frizz-free, and softer—and thus, longer with less shedding and breakage.
    Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 2 July 2026
  • The brown, round cookie has arms and legs, one eyebrow thicker than the other, and one buck tooth.
    Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Adjective
  • During the huge Round of 32 knockout showdown, packed crowds inside the legendary Estadio Azteca generated enough ground movement to trigger local seismic monitoring equipment.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
  • The road was so packed that his feet disappeared along the pavement, obstructed from view by those leading and those lagging behind.
    Sam McDowell July 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • There was no repeat of the slow start that cost him a spot last season.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
  • The house old-fashioned can be made with bourbon or gin and is a much slower sip.
    Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Adjective
  • With life spent largely on transit, navigating tight layovers, and using their days off to jet-set across the globe, flight attendants have mastered the art of packing.
    Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
  • Polls overall anticipate a tight race, including a June 19 survey by the news site Zeteo showing DeGette trailing Kiros 41% to 36%.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Not all blondes are dumb, don’t judge a book by its cover, yada yada yada, lo and behold, Reese Witherspoon is a certified movie star.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 June 2026
  • Though Cady has made some gestures toward helping the Bowdens, like his behind-the-scenes effort to get one of Anna’s death-row clients exonerated last week, Tom and Anna should not be so dumb as to ignore his ulterior motives.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • That creates more room inside compact devices without sacrificing storage performance.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
  • Smaller vehicles, such as compact SUVs and sedans, are usually less expensive to purchase, easier to park and more fuel-efficient.
    Chris Teague, AJC.com, 3 July 2026
Adjective
  • And no, that was NOT OutKick or FOX who wrote that stupid headline.
    Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • The thing about House of the Dragon is that everything really is quite stupid.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dense. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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