deadwood
1 synonym for deadwood, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Dead branches or wood still attached to a living tree, or fallen wood debris.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
fifth wheel
How to use deadwood
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
clear the deadwood
organisational deadwood
cut deadwood
Etymology
A literal compound of dead and wood, later extended figuratively to useless people or things.
Full origin of deadwood →Frequently asked questions
What does “deadwood” mean?
The word “deadwood” means dead branches or wood still attached to a living tree, or fallen wood debris. In plain terms, dead branches on a tree, or — figuratively — people/things that are no longer pulling their weight.
How do you pronounce “deadwood”?
“Deadwood” is pronounced DEHD-wuud (/ˈdɛd.wʊd/ in IPA).
How do you use “deadwood” in a sentence?
Here is “deadwood” used in a sentence: “The gardener cleared out the deadwood before spring.”
What part of speech is “deadwood”?
“Deadwood” is a noun.
How many meanings does “deadwood” have?
“Deadwood” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: dead branches or wood still attached to a living tree, or fallen wood debris.
