Synonyms for

Dense

Verb / dens / Another word for dense — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Dense means having parts that are close together, crowded, or tightly packed. It can also mean not smart or quick to understand.

Synonyms & similar words

dim dumb impenetrable dull obtuse slow thick heavy thick compact tight crowded concentrated heavy opaque impenetrable stupid dull slow dim ignorant unintelligent simple naive foolish obtuse blockheaded dopey

Synonyms by register

Formal

compact solid concentrated viscous

Informal

thick packed crammed jammed

Literary

impenetrable profound abstruse

Antonyms

sparse thin rare scattered loose airy transparent

Common collocations

  • dense fog
  • dense population
  • dense forest
  • dense material
  • dense liquid
  • dense network
  • dense argument

Word family

noun density
adjective dense
adverb densely

Usage note

Can refer to physical compactness, intellectual difficulty, or population concentration. Be mindful of context to avoid ambiguity.

Example sentences

  1. The air was so dense with smoke that it was hard to breathe.
  2. The book was so dense with information that it was difficult to read.
  3. The cake was dense and heavy.
  4. The crowd was so dense that it was hard to move.
  5. The forest was dense with trees.

Quotes

  • A dense crowd is not company.
  • The dense are too stupid to learn and too wicked to obey.
  • The mind is everything. What you think you become.

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