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dead-end

dead-end
D d

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [ded-end]
    • /dɛd ˈend/
    • /ded end/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [ded-end]
    • /dɛd ˈend/

Definitions of dead-end word

  • adjective dead-end terminating in a dead end: a dead-end street. 1
  • adjective dead-end Also, dead-ended. having no possibility for or hope of progress, advancement, etc.: a low-level, dead-end job. 1
  • adjective dead-end leading a life in the slums: growing up as a tough dead-end kid. 1
  • verb without object dead-end to come to a dead end: The road dead-ends at the lake. 1
  • noun dead-end something, as a street or water pipe, that has no exit. 1
  • noun dead-end a position that offers no hope of progress; blind alley; cul-de-sac: His theory led him to a dead end. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of dead-end

First appearance:

before 1885
One of the 21% newest English words
First recorded in 1885-90

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Dead-end

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

dead-end popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 50% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

Synonyms for dead-end

noun dead-end

  • stalemate — Chess. a position of the pieces in which a player cannot move any piece except the king and cannot move the king without putting it in check.
  • catch-22 — If you describe a situation as a Catch-22, you mean it is an impossible situation because you cannot do one thing until you do another thing, but you cannot do the second thing until you do the first thing.
  • blind alley — If you describe a situation as a blind alley, you mean that progress is not possible or that the situation can have no useful results.
  • corner — A corner is a point or an area where two or more edges, sides, or surfaces of something join.
  • draw — to cause to move in a particular direction by or as if by a pulling force; pull; drag (often followed by along, away, in, out, or off).

adj dead-end

  • impassable — not passable; not allowing passage over, through, along, etc.: Heavy snow made the roads impassable.
  • dim — DIM statement
  • disguised — to change the appearance or guise of so as to conceal identity or mislead, as by means of deceptive garb: The king was disguised as a peasant.
  • secluded — sheltered or screened from general activity, view, etc.: a secluded cottage.
  • dark — When it is dark, there is not enough light to see properly, for example because it is night.

verb dead-end

  • obstruct — to block or close up with an obstacle; make difficult to pass: Debris obstructed the road.
  • thwart — to oppose successfully; prevent from accomplishing a purpose.
  • stonewall — to engage in stonewalling.
  • foil — to cover or back with foil.
  • stall — a pretext, as a ruse, trick, or the like, used to delay or deceive.

Antonyms for dead-end

adj dead-end

  • uncovered — having no cover or covering.
  • seeing — the act of a person who sees.
  • sighted — having functional vision; not blind.
  • aware — If you are aware of something, you know about it.
  • understanding — mental process of a person who comprehends; comprehension; personal interpretation: My understanding of the word does not agree with yours.

verb dead-end

  • abet — If one person abets another, they help or encourage them to do something criminal or wrong. Abet is often used in the legal expression 'aid and abet'.
  • aid — Aid is money, equipment, or services that are provided for people, countries, or organizations who need them but cannot provide them for themselves.
  • assist — If you assist someone, you help them to do a job or task by doing part of the work for them.
  • release — to lease again.
  • help — to give or provide what is necessary to accomplish a task or satisfy a need; contribute strength or means to; render assistance to; cooperate effectively with; aid; assist: He planned to help me with my work. Let me help you with those packages.

See also

Matching words

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