bone-deep

adjective

1

: as deep as the bone : penetrating to the depth of bone

Donna slipped on a rock and fell on another, leaving a bone-deep cut on her right leg that required 21 stitches to close.

—Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated, 31 July 1989

The woman … sustained bone-deep puncture wounds to a thigh and arm before a neighbor drove the dogs away with a baseball bat.

—Winston-Salem Journal, 14 Sept. 2012

2

: very thorough or deeply felt

bone-deep weariness

The man has a bone-deep understanding of what motivates human beings.

—Deirdre Donahue, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2010

: deeply ingrained

Ry Cooder's bone-deep sense of Americana has never kept him from outside ethnic influences.

—Josef Woodard, Rolling Stone, 13 May 1993

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 2

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now