plumb 1 of 3

Definition of plumbnext

plumb

2 of 3

adverb

1
as in straight
in a direct line or course I can't believe he walked plumb into the tree, without even seeing it!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

plumb

3 of 3

verb

as in to scale
to measure the depth of (as a body of water) typically with a weighted line plumbed the bay to make sure it was deep enough for the ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective plumb differ from other similar words?

The words perpendicular and vertical are common synonyms of plumb. While all three words mean "being at right angles to a base line," plumb stresses an exact verticality determined (as with a plumb line) by earth's gravity.

make sure that the wall is plumb

When might perpendicular be a better fit than plumb?

Although the words perpendicular and plumb have much in common, perpendicular may stress the straightness of a line making a right angle with any other line, not necessarily a horizontal one.

the parallel bars are perpendicular to the support posts

In what contexts can vertical take the place of plumb?

In some situations, the words vertical and plumb are roughly equivalent. However, vertical suggests a line or direction rising straight upward toward a zenith.

the side of the cliff is almost vertical

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 plumb
Adjective
An actor’s job is to plumb emotions at a moment’s notice. Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2025 On Tuesday morning, the parking lot and the gravel road near the Oglala Commodity Warehouse in Pine Ridge was plumb-full of pick-up trucks and cars. Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
The two-car garage, upgraded with electrical and plumbing infrastructure for an additional washer and dryer, has a 16-foot ceiling that provides ample height for vehicle lifts to double its capacity. Sandra Barrera, Oc Register, 13 May 2026 As Latifi plumbs the industry, what stands out is just how manufactured this content is, and how often the children are being manipulated to perform. Kristen Martin, The Atlantic, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for plumb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plumb
Adjective
  • The unfussy style features a sleek silhouette, complete with a scoop neckline and a moderate-coverage bottom.
    Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 24 May 2026
  • Alison Ortega threw a complete game with seven strikeouts in La Mirada’s 5-1 win over La Habra.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
Adjective
  • And why not make Lohner a red-zone target with his vertical leap honed from his basketball background?
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 25 May 2026
  • The vertical axis is how often the AI heard a student’s name across 28 sessions; the horizontal axis is my own participation rating.
    Lutz Finger, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Adverb
  • Loafers can sometimes feel weirdly stiff straight out of the box, but this popular Uptown pair skips that painful break-in phase.
    Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 25 May 2026
  • Those costs go straight to your bill.
    Iulia Lupse, Sun Sentinel, 24 May 2026
Adverb
  • The book is a poetry collection structured in three acts with seven players, each assigned a color of the rainbow and an apparition’s name, each of whom needs an audience to fully exist.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
  • But critics questioned if the arrangement fully addressed the core national security concerns that motivated the TikTok ban legislation in the first place because ByteDance was set to retain control of some of the US app’s operations.
    Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 29 May 2026
Adverb
  • Hooker’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
    Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 28 May 2026
  • Day’s press rep and agency did not immediately respond to Variety‘s requests for comment.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • There’s value in the ethos, and the Hurricanes’ status — one win from the Stanley Cup Final, one win from scaling the hill that comes before the mountain — is proof of its efficacy.
    Sean Gentille, New York Times, 28 May 2026
  • The couple reportedly scaled back earlier White House wedding considerations in favor of a smaller Bahamas celebration amid tensions surrounding the war in Iran.
    Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • When the squad reported back to Kirkby five days after his death, the training complex was a scene of utter devastation.
    James Pearce, New York Times, 28 May 2026
  • On their first two trips to the property, the enormity of the task at hand—and their utter naiveté in taking it on—sank in.
    Ingrid Abramovitch, Architectural Digest, 22 May 2026
Adjective
  • The solitary daisy-like golden yellow flowers emerge from slender, erect stems.
    Jamie McIntosh, The Spruce, 5 May 2026
  • The chickens stomp with swift feet like an Irish step dancer, keeping their tails erect and wings drooped.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Plumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plumb. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

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