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Synonym Chooser

How is the word broad different from other adjectives like it?

The words deep and wide are common synonyms of broad. While all three words mean "having horizontal extent," broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered.

broad shoulders

Where would deep be a reasonable alternative to broad?

The synonyms deep and broad are sometimes interchangeable, but deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point.

a deep cupboard
deep woods

When could wide be used to replace broad?

The words wide and broad are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wide is more common when units of measurement are mentioned, or when applied to unfilled space between limits.

rugs eight feet wide
a wide doorway

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of broad However, the recent bankruptcy of 23andme, which put the DNA of the company’s 15 million customers at risk, is a reminder that these questions have far broader implications. Spencer Cox, Time, 4 Apr. 2025 Share prices fell for a second day on Friday in Asia and Europe, and futures market trading indicated that U.S. share prices might soon slip further as well, as worries persisted about the economic effect of President Trump’s broad tariffs. Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025 Nathan was diagnosed with Asperger's -- part of a broader diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, which can lead to difficulty with social interactions and communication skills. Audrey Karnan, ABC News, 4 Apr. 2025 Therefore, substantial reductions in SNAP funding may have broader economic implications beyond the immediate loss of assistance to individuals. Solange Charas, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for broad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for broad
Adjective
  • Best Alexa Speaker Photograph: Amazon Amazon Echo (4th Gen) $100 at Amazon $100 at Target Amazon's Echo speaker (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a cute ball of sound that brings the same bold bass and wide soundstage as the previous model, but with more room-filling sound than ever before.
    Parker Hall, Wired News, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Hundreds of thousands of emails and other confidential material spilled onto the internet, and the hackers threatened to carry out terrorist attacks on cinemas showing the film, causing Sony to retreat and pull its wide release.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Iryna has over 12 years of personal experience with counseling, in addition to taking part in an extensive AI course to further enhance her knowledge of the technology.
    Emma Kershaw, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The program aired extensive allegations against Brand.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The crony character of protectionism becomes obvious when examining the labyrinthine incoherence of U.S. trade policy.
    David B. McGarry, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Find the right dog kennel site This may seem obvious, but good site selection can mean the difference between a single workday and an entire holiday weekend.
    Patrick Brady, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Nash retired from basketball in 2014 but then served as the general manager for the Canadian men's national team and became the coaching consultant with the Golden State Warriors.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
  • But her breakout role was playing Dr. Miranda Bailey on Grey's Anatomy, beginning the show as a general surgery resident who works her way up the hospital ladder.
    Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Senate Republicans are attempting to include a debt ceiling hike in their sweeping tax and border bill, a move that would cut Democrats out of the equation amid a progressive revolt against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
    Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Mar. 2025
  • The state’s sweeping education reform bill took another painstaking step forward Tuesday, when a second Senate committee give it preliminary OK and rejected a separate House version.
    William J. Ford, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Fans supporting Baylor and UConn, which also participated in the 2019 Final Four, who made the trip to Tampa six years ago will experience a far more appealing and convenient environment from which there will be an unmistakable high level of energy radiating throughout downtown.
    Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • For over 20 years, her unmistakable voice has been the soundtrack to countless lives, blending gospel music a powerful message of faith.
    Shelby Stewart, Essence, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The employees' data, which goes back to 2015, showed that in March 2015 the overall vacancy rate was 9.3%.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Apr. 2025
  • While the overall hitting surface is not increased with the torpedo bat, the barrel of the bat is moved to a different location.
    Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Those were the same Rockets that famously ditched the concept of playing traditional centers by trading Clint Capela at the deadline, leaning into small-ball lineups that spaced the floor and launched from deep.
    Shane Young, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • This one from interior designer Kelly Wearstler has four breakfast plates, four bowls, four coffee cups and saucers, four starter plates, four dinner plates, and four deep plates, all ceramic and dishwasher-safe.
    Erika Owen, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Broad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broad. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.

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