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Definitions

dead end



ADJECTIVE
closed off; lacking opportunity
Synonyms




Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Owners Jingye seemed reluctant to ensure continued operations, and negotiations with the Chinese company to invest in new operations alongside government support hit a dead end.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

“It’s a dead end or a bridge to nowhere.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026

The fact that Vance and his team weren’t ready even to stay over one night suggests either that they were very naive or that they knew the trip was a dead end.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026

Artisanal makers of goat cheeses can be found along undulating roads through greenery that dead end at the foreboding promontory of Cabo Espichel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

“It’s not really a dead end, is it?”

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas




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