Standard Lemma guide

deadness

noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

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Pronunciation

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  • /ˈdɛdnəs/

1

noun

Meaning 1

The state of not being alive; lifelessness.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A lack of elasticity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Examples

  • He complained that the deadness of the balls affected his game.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A lack of sparkle in a fizzy drink.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Examples

  • The deadness of the champagne made it undrinkable.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A lack of animation in a person.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

Examples

  • The deadness of his expression told everything, without him having to speak.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

the inanimate property of something that has died

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: inanimateness, lifelessness

6

noun

Meaning 6

the physical property of something that has lost its elasticity

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he objected to the deadness of the tennis balls

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: inelasticity

7

noun

Meaning 7

the quality of being unresponsive; not reacting; as a quality of people, it is marked by a failure to respond quickly or with emotion to people or events

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • she began to recover from her numb unresponsiveness after the accident
  • in an instant all the deadness and withdrawal were wiped away

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: unresponsiveness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: quality

Narrower terms: frigidity, frigidness, resistance

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English dead Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English deadness From dead + -ness.