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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 In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 Apr. 2025 The goal of a windbreak is not to block out all the wind by planting in a dense, linear way. Pamela Noensie, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2025 The guys play too many matches and Didier can be a bit dense -- like denying a request for a couple weeks off to move to another country. Tom Williams, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025 This hot, dense state of matter consisting of the innermost building blocks of protons and neutrons, is believed to have filled the universe nearly 14 billion years ago, just microseconds after the Big Bang. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dense
Adjective
  • The most crowded trade in April was gold, according to Bank of America’s survey, breaking a two-year streak of the most crowded trade being the Magnificent Seven tech stocks.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025
  • This sustainable approach stems from her upbringing in a crowded household with three siblings.
    Pooja Shah, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • These Steve Madden platform sneakers feature thick, cushioned soles that provide extra height without sacrificing comfort.
    Jené Luciani Sena, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • In the center of the group stood a tall woman with long, thick hair, an easy smile, and a very pregnant midsection.
    Danielle Pergament, Allure, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The Little Gay Shop also keeps a packed roster of events, including author talks, signings, and multiple monthly book clubs.
    Nico Lang, Them., 21 Apr. 2025
  • In a 112-110 overtime win over the Clippers, a thrilling victory before a packed house at Ball Arena, the two sides of Jamal Murray encapsulated the two sides of the Denver Nuggets.
    Tony Jones, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The company reaffirmed plans to launch an affordable model in early 2025, but warned the production ramp could be slower than expected.
    Akash Sriram and Abhirup Roy, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Marie Collins, a survivor and safeguarding expert from Ireland who served on the commission in the early years, resigned in frustration at the slow pace of change.
    Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Some regulators might see stablecoins as competition to or complementary with CBDCs, leading to either tighter restrictions or new forms of partnership.
    Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Traction alopecia Anything that involves repeatedly pulling your hair into a tight style should be avoided.
    Shannon Lawlor, Glamour, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Making stupid internet fodder has never been easier than now, with the prevalence of AI image generators making everything from deepfakes to memes.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Much like the stupid prions wreaking havoc in his brain.
    David Oliver, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Its compact size makes installation a breeze, and its wireless design ensures you won’t get tangled in wires.
    Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 14 Apr. 2025
  • This style can fold up into a compact, carry-on-friendly size that won’t add bulk to your bag like most jackets.
    Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 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 30 Apr. 2025.

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