braindead
In a medical sense, it refers to the complete and irreversible cessation of all brain activity. Informally, it is used to describe a person who is acting extremely stupidly or someone who is exhausted and unable to think clearly.
Examples
3 of 5After 10 hours of back-to-back meetings, I felt totally braindead.
After working for ten hours without a break, I was unable to think clearly.
The ethics committee met to discuss the protocol for patients declared braindead.
The committee discussed the rules for handling patients with no remaining brain function.
I can't believe you forgot your keys again; that was a braindead move!
It is hard to believe you forgot your keys; that was a very stupid mistake.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'dead' battery in a 'brain'—nothing is running, and no signals are being sent.
Quick Quiz
After staying up all night to finish the project, Sarah felt completely ______ and couldn't even remember her own password.
Correct!
The correct answer is: braindead
Examples
After 10 hours of back-to-back meetings, I felt totally braindead.
everydayAfter working for ten hours without a break, I was unable to think clearly.
The ethics committee met to discuss the protocol for patients declared braindead.
formalThe committee discussed the rules for handling patients with no remaining brain function.
I can't believe you forgot your keys again; that was a braindead move!
informalIt is hard to believe you forgot your keys; that was a very stupid mistake.
The research paper critiques the various clinical criteria used to define a braindead state.
academicThe academic article evaluates the medical standards for diagnosing a total loss of brain function.
Investing all our capital into a single volatile stock was a braindead management decision.
businessThe management made a very unintelligent choice by putting all the money into one risky stock.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
braindead simple
extremely easy to do or understand
declared braindead
officially stated by a doctor to have no brain function
totally braindead
completely exhausted or acting without any intelligence
Often Confused With
Brain-damaged implies the brain is hurt but still functioning, while braindead means all function has stopped.
Mindless usually means acting without care or attention, whereas braindead suggests a total lack of capacity to think.
Usage Notes
The word has two distinct registers: a very serious medical/legal sense and a very informal, often insulting, colloquial sense. In a professional environment, avoid using it to mean 'stupid' as it can be seen as insensitive to those in medical crises.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use this word in formal writing to mean 'tired,' which is inappropriate; it should only be used formally in medical or ethical contexts.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'dead' battery in a 'brain'—nothing is running, and no signals are being sent.
Word Origin
Originating in the late 1960s and early 1970s alongside the development of intensive care technology that could maintain a heartbeat after brain function ceased.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many Western cultures, the definition of 'braindead' is the legal threshold for death, which is a significant topic in discussions regarding organ donation.
Quick Quiz
After staying up all night to finish the project, Sarah felt completely ______ and couldn't even remember her own password.
Correct!
The correct answer is: braindead
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