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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 The dense forests in the Voyageurs region offer plenty of hiding places. Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025 The report found the company to be exceptional, with quibbles so minor that explaining them here would require a crash course in the dense lexicon of climate reporting. Justin Worland, TIME, 25 Feb. 2025 This petite pick packs a springtime punch with its dense collection of yellow, red, and purple tulips. Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2025 On the other hand, Halsey’s smart, dense, often weird music has lately been overshadowed by the drama that continually dogs her. Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 17 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dense
Adjective
  • Elite institutions will continue to thrive, as will second-tier schools that can differentiate themselves in a crowded market.
    Scott White, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Josephine Chen, a partner at Sequoia, said the crowded market reflects the seriousness of the problem.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The average iPhone 16 measures 7.9mm (0.31 inches) thick, and the Galaxy S25 measures 7.2mm (0.28 inches) thick.
    Eric Zeman, PCMAG, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The final product is smooth but not thin, with a thick and intriguing mouthfeel.
    Erik Ofgang, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Raluca Anghel, Global Head of External Affairs and Industry Relations, Natural Diamond Council, gave a talk that packed particular power.
    Kyle Roderick, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • As Birdville boys basketball looked for its first state championship appearance in program history, supporters of the program created an electric playoff environment in a packed arena at Lewisville High School.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The 2024-25 Bruins are slow, short on skill, inconsistent on defense and diminished in net.
    Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
  • In the men’s draw, Daniil Medvedev, the Russian powerhouse, has been crushing it on slow courts.
    David Hochman, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The Brits handed their prize to Conclave, which feels like the favorite here, too, since the pacing of its papal politicking is as tight as a drum.
    Nate Jones, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
  • As a result of the super cycle, MRO facility capacity — already under pressure, particularly for engines — will remain tight, with long queues and increased turnaround times for aircraft and components.
    Oliver Wyman, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • That would have been a stupid question just about anywhere else, but the exhibition was by Laura Owens, a painter with a penchant for trickery, and the venue was Matthew Marks Gallery in New York, whose press release for Owens’s latest outing offered little in the way of explanation.
    Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Thank you Hallie for thinking of me and putting my name in your stupid brother's ear.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Impressively aerodynamic, the Ro 80’s long wheelbase, spacious greenhouse, and elegant shape were enabled by the use of Felix Wankel’s compact rotary engine.
    Raphael Orlove, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2025
  • These long-blooming tropicals have a compact, upright habit, and dense branching for big impact in gardens and containers.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 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 12 Mar. 2025.

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