deadwood

[ ded-wood ]

/ ˈdɛdˌwʊd /

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See synonyms for: deadwood / deadwoods on Thesaurus.com

noun

the dead branches on a tree; dead branches or trees.

useless or burdensome persons or things: He cut the deadwood from his staff.

(in writing) unnecessary words, phrases, or exposition; expendable verbiage: This could be a thoughtful and incisive essay if you get rid of the deadwood.

Nautical. a solid construction, serving only as reinforcement, located between the keel of a vessel and the stem or sternpost.

Bowling. pins remaining on the alley after having been knocked down by the ball.

Cards.

Rummy. cards in a hand that have not been included in sets and are usually counted as points against the holder.
Poker. cards that have been discarded.

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Origin of deadwood

First recorded in 1720–30; dead + wood¹

Words nearby deadwood

dead water, dead weight, deadweight tonnage, Dead White European Male, dead white male, deadwood, deadwork, dead zone, deaerate, deaf, deaf aid

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use deadwood in a sentence

I thought for a minute that I had put on my Deadwood DVD by mistake.
In Dinesh D’Souza’s ‘America,’ Slavery Wasn’t So Bad, but Hillary and Barack Are Socialist Devils|Andrew Romano|June 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 2004, I was in grad school, and Deadwood, The Wire, and The Sopranos were all on HBO.
Inside the Obsessive, Strange Mind of True Detective’s Nic Pizzolatto|Andrew Romano|February 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For the time being, the girls are living with friends in Deadwood, South Dakota.
The Westboro Defectors Speak: Phelps Granddaughters Embrace Tolerance|John Avlon|March 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Milch, who wrote such superb shows as NYPD Blue and Deadwood and also penned Luck, is a disgrace as well.
HBO’s ‘Luck’ Runs Out as Show Is Canceled After Three Horses Die|Buzz Bissinger|March 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Ferguson later quipped, "Better plywood leadership than deadwood leadership!"
The Reboot Begins|Randall Lane|October 23, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Mollett's theory is that it is better to cut away every inch of deadwood which is not absolutely necessary for preventing leeway.
Yachting Vol. 2|Various.
Three hours later Billy and the sobered tenderfoot pulled into Deadwood.
Blazed Trail Stories|Stewart Edward White
For the moment Napoleon's little neighbor was troubled by no sense of duty; the only question was how to reach Deadwood.
Napoleon's Young Neighbor|Helen Leah Reed
Several months before, it had been the custom to send a “treasure-coach” twice a week from Deadwood to Sidney, Nebraska.
The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce|Ambrose Bierce
We had a premonition that Elise wouldn't want the deadwood of Jimmie's former Division.
The Gay Cockade|Temple Bailey

British Dictionary definitions for deadwood

deadwood

/ (ˈdɛdˌwʊd) /

noun

dead trees or branches

informal a useless person; encumbrance

nautical a filler piece between the keel and the stern of a wooden vessel

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

deadwood

Origin of deadwood

Words nearby deadwood

Words related to deadwood

How to use deadwood in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for deadwood