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deep

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noun

1
as in midst
the most intense or characteristic phase of something the kind of cold weather that we usually have only in the deep of winter

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in sea
the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three-fourths of the earth sailors exploring the farther reaches of the briny deep

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

Synonym Chooser

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

The words broad and wide are common synonyms of deep. While all three words mean "having horizontal extent," deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point.

a deep cupboard
deep woods

Where would broad be a reasonable alternative to deep?

The meanings of broad and deep largely overlap; however, broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered.

broad shoulders

When is it sensible to use wide instead of deep?

In some situations, the words wide and deep are roughly equivalent. However, 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 deep
Adjective
On Saturday, March 29, 2025, a deep partial solar eclipse will be visible across the Northern Hemisphere. Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 22 Mar. 2025 Japan has a deep baseball history and is the country’s most popular sport for both spectators and participants. Ian Thomas, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2025
Noun
But the Hard Quartet dip their four sets of lips into those waters and drink deep. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2024 Then, in the meeting, see what resonates and dig in deep. Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for deep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deep
Adjective
  • Noah Davis’s premature death in 2015, at just 32, deprived the world of a singular talent whose work combined technical mastery with a profound empathy for everyday life.
    Nargess Banks, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Stardust is at the forefront of an alternative path: One in which private companies drive the development, and perhaps deployment, of technologies that experts say could have profound consequences for the planet.
    Ramin Skibba, WIRED, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Kathleen Mangione has supported Baltimore-area hospitals and carried a low profile compared to other family members.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Plus, best-selling Bose headphones are down to their lowest price all year.
    Isabel Garcia, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In the second episode, Arthur and his queen, Guinevere, are presiding over a feast when it is interrupted by a mysterious visitor, a blind harpist, guided into court by a white dog.
    Alan Yuhas, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Despite Shauna trying to blame her for all the mysterious things happening to her in season 3, Melissa says that Shauna is the problem, the real anti-hero, so to speak.
    Stacy Lambe, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • New esoteric spiritual movements had begun sweeping across Europe.
    Jay Cheshes, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
  • While the issue may seem esoteric, the impact is anything but.
    Seth Joseph, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • That would be Mark Rylance as Henry’s lord privy seal, Thomas Cromwell, an endlessly fascinating and ambiguous figure—brilliant, scheming, moral—whom Rylance animates with gravity and kaleidoscopic skill.
    Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2025
  • An unlikely ally to Tanner and Luca as tensions rise, but loyalties remain ambiguous.
    Martine Paris, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The May 1945 bombing came on the heels of another intense U.S. firebombing campaign known as Operation Meetinghouse.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The sun has once again unleashed a powerful solar flare, continuing its streak of intense activity.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This strategic partnership has been particularly beneficial, as access to PepsiCo’s extensive distribution network has accelerated Celsius’s recent growth and market penetration.
    Trefis Team, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Start your meal with a samosa or chicken 65 appetizer, then peruse the extensive menu that includes clay oven barbecue namak mandi peshawar dishes, plus Indian dishes such as chicken tikka masala, aloo gobi and paneer tikka masala.
    Alexandra Maloney, Charlotte Observer, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • An away victory would have doomed Peru completely but now the race to qualify, for that play-off spot at least, is back on.
    Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • He’s been named in the Republic of Ireland’s squad for their two-leg Nations League promotion/relegation play-off against Bulgaria, with the away game today (Thursday) and the decider in Dublin on Sunday.
    Roshane Thomas, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deep. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

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