dense

adjective

ˈden(t)s How to pronounce dense (audio)
Definition of densenext
1
as in crowded
having little space between items or parts the dense soil in the garden

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 Some locally dense fog remains possible Tuesday as dew point temperatures and air temperatures reach the low 60s. —Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026 Experts suspect that almonds' natural blood-pressure-lowering effect is due to their nutrient-dense profile. —Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 10 Feb. 2026 Matcha and nutrient-dense spirulina are blended together with creamy almond milk and dates to create this healthy pick-me-up. —Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 9 Feb. 2026 The dense schedule tested pilot endurance and team coordination. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dense
  1. crowded
  2. thick
  3. packed
  4. slow
  5. tight
  6. dumb
  7. compact
  8. stupid
Adjective
  • Vying for a parking spot on a crowded city street after a snowstorm has long felt like going to battle, and now there's a harrowing twist.
    — Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
  • But a crowded Democratic field increases the chances that two Republicans and no Democrats make it past the June primary.
    — Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of crowded
Adjective
  • These caverns under sidewalks could be used for storage, and circular pieces of thick glass in the sidewalk added natural light to these eerie underground chambers.
    — Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The Bucklebury countryside is known for its thick woodlands, which add an extra layer of privacy to the exclusive area, attracting a less-flashy set.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of thick
Adjective
  • While Olympians in Milan walked into a packed stadium with flashing lights and thumping techno music played by a DJ at a turntable that looked like ice, the mountain ceremonies took place through the streets.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
  • The riffs of a country band trickled from a packed club and into the parking lot, a rock’s throw from Alabama’s hulking college football stadium.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of packed
Adjective
  • That builds on similar trends throughout 2025, when the industry buoyed an otherwise slow labor market, as the nation’s hospitals, clinics and nursing homes kept hiring even as many employers pulled back.
    — Abha Bhattarai, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Any type of realism was [limited to] very short clips, everything was very slow, bad textures, no skin textures, lacking detail.
    — Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of slow
Adjective
  • The massacre prompted a national reckoning about violence against women and led to tighter gun laws.
    — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • However, despite workers’ noticeable preference for remote positions, the demands of employers and a much tighter job market suggest many may need to adjust to the new realities of the marketplace.
    — Victoria Baeza Garcia, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of tight
Adjective
  • And then quite a bit of dumb bits, like really dumb bits.
    — Eric Ducker, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The multi-vehicle pile-up that ensues might go even dumber than a Rusko drop, yet there’s no escaping the anxiety that remains in the static hiss that closes the track.
    — James Gui, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of dumb
Adjective
  • Neutrogena's Dry-touch Sunscreen provides UVA/UVB protection benefits in a compact size.
    — Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
  • That might sound crazy considering how many people clamor at every mention of a compact Toyota truck.
    — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of compact
Adjective
  • But maybe Johnson isn’t stupid.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Such as the one where the candidate remarked that some white rural Americans were stupid and racist.
    — Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of stupid

Browse Nearby Words

dens
dense
denseness
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Cite this Entry

“Dense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dense. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dense

Nglish: Translation of dense for Spanish Speakers

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