Moribund
adjective /ˈmɒr.ɪ.bʌnd/ — At the point of death; in terminal decline
Definition
At the point of death — or of an institution, practice, or industry, declining so sharply that it cannot recover. In the process of dying without having yet completed the process.
Beyond the definition
The long moment before the end. Moribund things are not yet dead — and that is what makes them interesting. They still have form, still function at some reduced level, still exist.
Origin & history
From Latin 'moribundus' (dying, at the point of death) — from 'mori' (to die). Related to 'mortal', 'mortuary', 'murder'. The dying state before death.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The industry was moribund — not dead but unable to imagine a future that differed from its past.
He visited the moribund institution with the same care he might have given a very old person in their final months.
A moribund idea is more dangerous than a dead one — it still has advocates.
How to use it
This entry uses an adjective. Follow the examples for the nouns it describes and its position in the sentence.
Choose “Moribund” when the meaning fits your context: At the point of death — or of an institution, practice, or industry, declining so sharply that it cannot recover. In the process of dying without having yet completed the process.
Synonyms
dying, terminal, declining, failing, expiring
Antonyms
thriving, flourishing, vital
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Reclaimed Old Chair
A chair on the forest floor is being steadily broken down by fungi and vines, indicating a slow, inevitable decline.
The chair being slowly reclaimed by nature, unable to be recovered, illustrates the process of decline that characterizes something in a moribund state.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Moribund" mean?
Moribund is adjective meaning: At the point of death; in terminal decline. At the point of death — or of an institution, practice, or industry, declining so sharply that it cannot recover. In the process of dying without having yet completed the process.
Where does the word "Moribund" come from?
From Latin 'moribundus' (dying, at the point of death) — from 'mori' (to die). Related to 'mortal', 'mortuary', 'murder'. The dying state before death.