abyss

noun

ə-ˈbis 

a-,

 also  ˈa-(ˌ)bis

1

a

: an immeasurably deep gulf or great space

gazed down into the gaping abyss

the ocean's abysses

(figurative) a widening abyss between the rich and the poor

b

: intellectual or moral depths

an abyss of moral depravity

an abyss of despair

2

: the bottomless gulf, pit, or chaos of the old cosmogonies

Synonyms

• abysm
• chasm
• deep
• gulf
• ocean

Examples of abyss in a Sentence

looking down at the dark ocean from the ship's rail, the cruise passenger felt as though he was staring into an abyss

Recent Examples on the Web

This election might feel so stressful, completely overwhelming, as if our country is teetering on the edge of an abyss. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 7 Oct. 2024

McDermott and Beane basically came in together, established a culture true to their vision and pulled the Bills out of their 17-year abyss. —Tim Graham, The Athletic, 29 Aug. 2024

The season ended, the credits rolled, and I was tossed into the abyss of inessential programming. —Evan Waite, The New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2024

The training slowly pulled him out of his psychological abyss. —John Carlisle, Detroit Free Press, 19 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin abyssus, borrowed from Greek ábyssos "bottomless, unfathomable, (as noun) bottomless gulf," from a- a- entry 2 + byssós "depth of the sea," probably going back to *byth-yos, derivative of bythós "depth, deepest part, bottom," probably of pre-Greek substratal origin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

abyss

noun

ə-ˈbis 

: a gulf so deep or a space so great that it cannot be measured