moribund

[ mawr-uh-buhnd, mor- ]
See synonyms for moribund on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. in a dying state; near death: He arrived at the hospital moribund, and passed away a few hours later.

  2. on the verge of extinction or termination: moribund species, largely due to human encroachment on their natural habitat.

  1. not progressing or advancing; stagnant: a moribund political party.

Origin of moribund

1
First recorded in 1715–25; from Latin moribundus “dying,” equivalent to mori- (stem of morī “to die”) + -bundus adjective suffix

Other words from moribund

  • mor·i·bun·di·ty, noun
  • mor·i·bund·ly, adverb
  • un·mor·i·bund, adjective
  • un·mor·i·bund·ly, adverb

Words Nearby moribund

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use moribund in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for moribund

moribund

/ (ˈmɒrɪˌbʌnd) /


adjective
  1. near death

  2. stagnant; without force or vitality

Origin of moribund

1
C18: from Latin, from morī to die

Derived forms of moribund

  • moribundity, noun
  • moribundly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012