moribund
adjective
mor·i·bund ˈmȯr-ə-(ˌ)bənd 
ˈmär-
1
: being in the state of dying : approaching death
in the moribund patient deepening stupor and coma are the usual preludes to death
Norman Cameron
Norman Cameron2
: being in a state of inactivity or obsolescence
a moribund virus
a moribund volcano
prune the moribund files from your disk forever D. S. Janal
D. S. Janal moribundity
ˌmȯr-ə-ˈbən-də-tē
noun ˌmär-
Did you know?
Moribund Gets Less Literal
Moribund is still sometimes used in its original literal sense of "approaching death", but it's much more often used to describe things. When the economy goes bad, we hear about moribund mills and factories and towns; the economy itself may even be called moribund. Critics may speak of the moribund state of poetry, or lament the moribund record or newspaper industry.
Synonyms
- dying
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
an actor who is trying to revive his moribund career The peace talks are moribund.
Recent Examples on the Web Disney musicals have been credited with reviving the moribund Broadway industry in the 1990s by creating a new family audience that expanded theater tourism to New York. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Aug. 2022 The new jobs offer a small bit of hope in the still moribund New Orleans tourism industry. Anthony Mcauley | Staff Writer, NOLA.com, 9 Feb. 2021 No, the immediate problem as the season picked up after the All-Star break in Philadelphia is a too-often moribund offense. Dave Hyde, sun-sentinel.com, 16 July 2021 This year’s reversal has riveted the financial industry and fueled a surprising revival for some apparently moribund businesses, helping AMC narrowly avert bankruptcy and paving the way for GameStop to raise money by issuing shares. Alexander Osipovich, WSJ, 27 May 2021 Once defined as a moribund domestic cable channel that many thought would never fully recover from the dotcom bubble bursting, CNBC is today a global multimedia powerhouse, punching far above its weight, in the digital age. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Aug. 2022 The moribund antibiotics industry demonstrates how shrinking markets — hospitals and doctors intentionally limit the use of new drugs to reduce microbial resistance — lead to lower investment, Garthwaite said. Arthur Allen, CNN, 12 Aug. 2022 The consummate Auburn man, Jordan played football, baseball and basketball on The Plains and was also head basketball coach at his alma mater and at Georgia before taking over a moribund Tigers football program. Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 3 Aug. 2022 The judicial investigation into the explosion is moribund. Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 3 Aug. 2022 See More
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Aug. 2022 The new jobs offer a small bit of hope in the still moribund New Orleans tourism industry. Anthony Mcauley | Staff Writer, NOLA.com, 9 Feb. 2021 No, the immediate problem as the season picked up after the All-Star break in Philadelphia is a too-often moribund offense. Dave Hyde, sun-sentinel.com, 16 July 2021 This year’s reversal has riveted the financial industry and fueled a surprising revival for some apparently moribund businesses, helping AMC narrowly avert bankruptcy and paving the way for GameStop to raise money by issuing shares. Alexander Osipovich, WSJ, 27 May 2021 Once defined as a moribund domestic cable channel that many thought would never fully recover from the dotcom bubble bursting, CNBC is today a global multimedia powerhouse, punching far above its weight, in the digital age. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Aug. 2022 The moribund antibiotics industry demonstrates how shrinking markets — hospitals and doctors intentionally limit the use of new drugs to reduce microbial resistance — lead to lower investment, Garthwaite said. Arthur Allen, CNN, 12 Aug. 2022 The consummate Auburn man, Jordan played football, baseball and basketball on The Plains and was also head basketball coach at his alma mater and at Georgia before taking over a moribund Tigers football program. Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 3 Aug. 2022 The judicial investigation into the explosion is moribund. Tamara Qiblawi, CNN, 3 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin moribundus, from mori to die — more at murder
First Known Use
circa 1721, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
moribund
adjective
mor·i·bund ˈmȯr-ə-(ˌ)bənd, ˈmär-
: being in the state of dying : approaching death
in the moribund patient deepening stupor and coma are the usual preludes to death Norman Cameron
Norman Cameronmoribund
adjective
1
as in dying
nearly dead with its run-down look and empty aisles, the grocery store appeared moribund Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- dying
- fallen
- dead
- sinking
- gone
- lifeless
- defunct
- fading
- expiring
- declining
- deteriorating
- at death's door
- deceased
- demised
- departed
- decadent
- terminal
- passing away
- passed away
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- alive
- existing
- live
- living
- breathing
- surviving
- animate
- quick
- thriving
- flourishing
- being
- booming
- subsisting
- vital
- energetic
- lively
- roaring
- spirited
- vivacious
- animated
- perky
- prospering
- sprightly
- frisky
- peppy
- jazzy
- springy
- bouncing
- zippy
- sprightful
2
as in obsolete
having passed its time of use or usefulness youngsters snickering at the moribund slang their parents were using Synonyms & Similar Words
- obsolete
- archaic
- antiquated
- medieval
- prehistoric
- defunct
- outmoded
- old
- rusty
- useless
- expired
- dated
- outdated
- outworn
- superannuated
- fossilized
- passé
- discarded
- ancient
- dead
- neolithic
- aging
- kaput
- prehistorical
- mossy
- antique
- extinct
- out-of-date
- vintage
- historic
- obsolescent
- mediaeval
- late
- disused
- historical
- démodé
- moth-eaten
- unusable
- dormant
- ageing
- vanished
- retro
- kaputt
- unworkable
- inactive
- demoded
- inert
- aged
- venerable
- fusty
- past
- Stone Age
- antediluvian
- inoperative
- inoperable
- erstwhile
- idle
- former
- latent
- fallow
- Noachian
- hoary
- bygone
- musty
- free
- atavistic
- old-time
- dateless
- old-fashioned
- age-old
- old-world
- oldfangled
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- modern
- current
- new
- contemporary
- recent
- newfangled
- ultramodern
- fresh
- modernized
- renewed
- present-day
- mod
- new-fashioned
- operational
- active
- functional
- workable
- operating
- up-to-the-minute
- functioning
- alive
- up-to-date
- operative
- busy
- refurbished
- operable
- remodeled
- employed
- supply-side economics
- supply-sider
- supplying
- support
- support group
- support hose
- support hoses
- support level
- support mission
- support system
- supportabilities
- supportability
- supportable
- supportableness
- supportance
- supportation
- supported
- supported joint
- supporter
- supporters
- supportest
- supporting
- supporting cast
- supporting distance
- supportingly