Mr Smith lost his way in the dense fog.
Source: tatoeba (51578)
Dense
/dɛns/
Synonyms for "dense" (283 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (57)
Adjective(11 words)
thickbirdbrainedbrainlessbushierbushycluelesscompactcompact prosecomplicatedconcentrated liquidconvoluted
Verb(4 words)
Noun(4 words)
Strong matches (85)
crawlingcrowdeddiamondlikedimdim-witteddoltishdream updulldullarddumbduncicalduncishdurabledureenduringexuberantfatfatheadedfirmflintlike
Show 36 more words
flintyflourishingfoolishfullfull bodiedfull-bodiedglueygone to seedgranitelikegraniticgrosshardhard as nailshardheartedheapedheavyheavysethornyimpassableimpassiveimpenetrableimpermeableineducableiron-hardironlikejam packedjam-packedjammedjungledjunglyklutzylacklustrelamebrainedlapideouslastingleaden
Adjective(22 words)
crowdedcrowded layoutdense layerdense tissuedensestdifficult readingdimdimwitteddoughierdulldumbdumbergormlesshard substanceheavyheavy earthshigh density solidhigh-density solidsimpenetrableinkiest
Show 2 more words
Noun(5 words)
Verb(1 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (141)
lethargiclithoidlithoidallumpishlushluxuriantmarblemarblelikemassedmassivenonporousnumskulledoafishobdurateobtuseopaqueosseousovergrownoverrunpacked
Show 61 more words
phlegmaticpiledpinheadpopulousrankresistantresistiveriotousrocklikerockyruggedserriedsimpleslowslow-wittedsluggishsolidsottishsoundstablesteadysteellikesteelystiffstolidstonelikestonystoutstrongstupidsturdysubstantialswarmingteemingthickthick wittedthick-bodiedthick-growingthick-wittedthickheadedthicksetthree dimensionalthree-dimensionaltighttorpidtoughunteachableunweededunyieldingviscidviscoseviscousweed-chokedweed-riddenweedywell-builtwell-constructedwell-foundedwell-groundedwell-madewrongheaded
Noun(20 words)
liquid densitymass densitymass togethermassed troopsmassingmassive crowdmore compactmost texturalnone too brightphonebook styleportobello mushroomreactant concentrationrepletingromanian compactsolid color palettesqueezingthickeningthrongingtroop massinguncomprehending
Adjective(34 words)
low buoyancylow porosity solidmeatierobtuseobtuseroppressiveovercrowdedpackedpetrousportlierpycnoticslowsolid approachsolid argumentsolid chunkssolid contentssolid coresolid densitysolid mattersolid matter the material
Show 14 more words
solid objectsolid object examplesolid partsolid performancesolid samplesolid substancesolideststodgiestthick liquidsthickerthickesttight spacingunintelligenturban structure
Adverb(1 words)
most solid structure
Determiner(1 words)
most solid-density
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: thick, adamantine, asinine, beef-brained, beef-witted.
- Sentence evidence is available for dense, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "dense".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "dense"
Keep "dense" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "dense" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "dense", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "dense" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
5 entriesMore specific
6 entriesCollocations
6 entriesdense brushdense fogdense forestdense populationdense textdense traffic
Inflections
2 entriesDerivations
3 entriessimilar
5 entriesTranslations
5 translations across 5 languages.
Danish
1 entries- tæt adj (math: being a well-approximating subset)
Finnish
1 entries- tiheä adj (math: being a well-approximating subset)
German
1 entries- dicht adj (math: being a well-approximating subset)
Polish
1 entries- gęsty adj (math: being a well-approximating subset)
Spanish
1 entries- (subconjunto) denso adj (math: being a well-approximating subset)
Sample sentences
15 total sentences available.
There is a dense growth of vines in this forest.
Source: tatoeba (58340)
There is a dense population of young people around here.
Source: tatoeba (61355)
The man was hiding in a dense forest.
Source: tatoeba (276869)
Showing 4 of 15 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "dense"?
Closest matches include thick, adamantine, asinine, beef-brained, beef-witted.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "dense"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.