Synonyms of wide

wide 1 of 2

adjective

ˈwīd 

1

as in broad

having a greater than usual measure across

the river is so wide that building a bridge across it would be impractical

Synonyms & Similar Words

• broad
• thick
• expansive
• extensive
• sweeping
• sizable
• oversized
• spacious
• fat
• sizeable
• substantial
• roomy
• commodious
• oversize
• voluminous
• tidy
• outsized
• outsize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• narrow
• thin
• slender
• skinny
• slim
• fine
• elongated
• close
• hairlike
• tight
• elongate
• needlelike
• squeezed
• paper-thin
• small
• constricted
• tightened
• compressed
• slim-jim
• condensed
• reedlike
• hairline
• contracted
• smallish
• attenuated
• undersized
• undersize
• bottleneck
• attenuate

2

as in extensive

having considerable extent

a wide and detailed knowledge of the issue

Synonyms & Similar Words

• broad
• extensive
• sweeping
• deep
• extended
• expansive
• widespread
• comprehensive
• general
• wide-ranging
• far-reaching
• rangy
• far-flung
• inclusive
• global
• infinite
• endless
• unlimited
• limitless
• boundless
• spacious
• roomy
• commodious
• capacious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• narrow
• limited
• restricted
• circumscribed

wide

2 of 2

adverb

as in quite

to a full extent or degree

the door was wide open

Synonyms & Similar Words

• quite
• fast
• perfectly
• fully
• completely
• all
• totally
• utterly
• entire
• wholly
• well
• out
• thoroughly
• even
• entirely
• exactly
• enough
• full
• flat
• absolutely
• for fair
• at length
• in whole
• clean
• to pieces
• all the way
• down to the ground
• dead
• to bits
• down the line
• all over
• plumb
• heartily
• through and through
• soundly
• basically
• plain
• altogether
• to the hilt
• to the max
• cold
• mostly
• all of
• substantially
• largely
• generally
• predominantly
• mainly
• by and large
• downright
• unqualifiedly
• principally
• primarily
• greatly
• predominately
• chiefly
• generously
• overall
• more or less
• categorically
• stone
• hands down
• abundantly
• stone-cold
• copiously

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• halfway
• half
• partly
• partially
• slightly
• just
• scarcely
• barely
• hardly
• somewhat
• part
• marginally
• minimally
• approximately
• superficially
• incompletely
• roughly
• kind of

Synonym Chooser

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

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

In what contexts can broad take the place of wide?

Although the words broad and wide have much in common, broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered.

broad shoulders

When is deep a more appropriate choice than wide?

In some situations, the words deep and wide are roughly equivalent. However, deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point.

a deep cupboard

deep woods

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wide

Adjective

Recent research in the journal Nature Microbiology shows an association between eating a wide range of plants and the presence of lots of beneficial bacteria in the gut. —Beth Krietsch, SELF, 7 Apr. 2025

Celestial Park, with its wide stretches of concrete pathways, and Isle of Berk, with its meandering walkways and uncovered queues, were both particularly hot under the blazing Florida sun. —Adrian Ruhi, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2025

Adverb

Nickel seems pretty wide open and is a spot where Brown could slide into because there aren’t many other obvious candidates on the roster. —Antonio Morales, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025

The angel was inspired by a print, Angelus Novus, by his friend Paul Klee, which features a great and beneficent being with his wings spread wide. —Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2025

Phrases Containing wide

• far and wide