dead weight
noun
the heavy, unrelieved weight of anything inert.
deadweight
-
a variation of
dead weight.
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.
Ships of all different sizes, measured by deadweight tonnage, have passed through the strait.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026
Software as a service, or SaaS, was once the market’s hottest sector, but it’s been a deadweight for much of the last month.
From Barron's ● Feb. 28, 2026
She heeds this warning, starting to realize that this boyfriend might not bring her freedom but deadweight, as much as she tries to help him help himself.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2025
This pattern continues in the world of international trade law, which reduces the deadweight losses from tariff and nontariff barriers to facilitate international commerce.
From Slate ● Jan. 6, 2025
I try to feel my way forward, but my limbs are leaden, and in moments I slip to the floor, my body a deadweight.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
