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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 Roach recommends using a dense synthetic angled brush to reach areas like the forehead and jaw. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 3 Apr. 2025 Unusually warm spring temperatures in South Korea dried out the landscape and, combined with strong winds, set the stage for fast moving fires to eat through the region’s dense forest. Yoonjung Seo, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2025 The options include residential development because residents in the town of Southbury do not want any dense development of a bucolic campus with striking views and large amounts of open space. Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2025 That hypothetical journey would have faced formidable obstacles including mountains, rivers and dense forests, and may have taken about eight months. Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dense
Adjective
  • In that crowded class of prospects, each star had his own identity.
    D. Watkins, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025
  • As tensions threaten to turn to violence in the crowded train car, the officer arrives.
    EW.com, EW.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This beautiful Easter garland, on sale for $79.99 at Wayfair, is opulent and thick with twigs and pastel eggs that run throughout.
    Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Twangy bass lines thick enough to saw down a redwood tree are shredded with shivers of electric guitar to create a blues sound that cuts a hole straight through the decades.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Lock-in bonus bets for a packed sports schedule or start with a large wager.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • While an older kid might have drama club or sports practice right after school, younger kids may not be able to handle such a packed day, and that’s okay.
    Liz Regalia, Parents, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The building Celine now occupies what used to be a slow pop-up for Dior and Loro Piana.
    Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Of the slow, unsexy work of loving someone even in the worst times.
    Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The following are the three main types to choose from: Small cat trees are affordable and ideal for tight living quarters.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
  • This wood is chosen for its tight grain and natural flavor compounds, such as lignin and tannins.
    Emily Price, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Amelia soon decides that stupid boys (and humans in general) aren't worth keeping around.
    Nick Romano, EW.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Sharing war plans outside U.S. government systems is the kind of offense that is almost too stupid to commit.
    Daniel DePetris, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Despite its compact size, the umbrella does not require much compromising when it’s propped open.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2025
  • At a compact 6-foot-3, 331 pounds, with a 33.5-inch arm length, Grant is built like a brick house and easily satisfies the prototypical measurements the Bills have invested in before.
    Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 4 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 16 Apr. 2025.

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