moribund

[ mawr-uh-buhnd, mor- ]

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.

3. not progressing or advancing; stagnant:

   a moribund political party.

moribund

/ ˈmɒrɪˌbʌnd /

adjective

1. near death
2. stagnant; without force or vitality

Derived Forms

• ˌmoriˈbundity, noun
• ˈmoriˌbundly, adverb

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of moribund¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of moribund¹

C18: from Latin, from morī to die

Example Sentences

The goal is to revive the moribund materials industry by incorporating digital simulations, robotics, data science, artificial intelligence, and even quantum computing into the discovery process.

From MIT Technology Review

Edwards, with the raw tools and confidence required of today’s NBA, could be the key to elevating the franchise’s profile beyond its moribund status quo.

From FiveThirtyEight

You could say that when the world got moribund, “No Activity” got animated.

From Washington Post

Owing perhaps to its subordinate status, Africa’s second highest peak has not been as romanticized in Western culture as its Tanzanian counterpart—at least if Toto lyrics and Hemingway fantasies of moribund masculinity are anything to go by.

From Outside Online

It wasn’t too long ago that Bed Bath & Beyond was presumed by many investors to be moribund.

From Fortune

Then Heal STL was burned down Monday like a moribund body for cremation.

From The Daily Beast

Leaving the moribund Eddie, Frank crosses paths with a black deliveryman, and they talk about hurricane survivors.

From The Daily Beast

What these examples show is that even moribund brands can be revived.

From The Daily Beast

When Murdoch bought the paper in 1969 it was a moribund broadsheet losing a ton of money, with a circulation of 800,000.

From The Daily Beast

Now French investigators, with the help of the FBI, want to know if it is more than a moribund coincidence.

From The Daily Beast

The taint was too inveterate to be eradicated; the evil was immedicable; Rome was already effete and moribund.

From Project Gutenberg

For a time Parliament was enormously taken up with moribund issues and old quarrels.

From Project Gutenberg

Possibly the first-hand memoir of a miracle would have satisfied us, or the harrowing confessions and last wishes of the moribund.

From Project Gutenberg

I have attended many death-beds in response to the invitations of the moribund,but I shall not be present at yours!

From Project Gutenberg

In reality, however, many of these popular workers were already moribund and the novel was being honeycombed by French influence.

From Project Gutenberg