BROAD Synonyms: 209 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

broad

adjective

ˈbrȯd

Definition of broad next

as in wide

having a greater than usual measure across an unusually broad expanse of water in the island-dotted lake

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in extensive

having considerable extent her broad knowledge of American politics makes her a much-sought-after guest on talk shows

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in obvious

not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation gave them a broad hint that it was time to leave

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as in general

relating to the main elements and not to specific details a broad overview of the topic

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 This broader competition is already reshaping how countries respond to crises. —

Derek Chollet, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026 The new directive, part of a broader effort to increase scrutiny of research done with foreign partners, asks workers in the agency’s research arm to use Google to check the backgrounds of all foreign nationals collaborating with its scientists. —

Lisa Song, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026 The crime becomes the trigger for a broader story about rivalry, loyalty and the pressure of maintaining status inside a powerful household. —

Emiliano De Pablos, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026 Greenland, which took up much of the government’s energy in recent months, wasn't a significant issue in the campaign because there is broad agreement on its place in the kingdom. —

ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for broad

Recent Examples of Synonyms for broad

Adjective

Iran kept up its wave of attacks launched at Israel that have sent millions of people to shelters, with sirens sounding across a wide swath of the north, from Haifa to the Galilee to the border with Lebanon.

— DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, Arkansas Online, 20 Mar. 2026
Since then, Theroux’s body of work has gained a wider, younger audience who appreciate him as a uniquely empathetic interviewer capable of disarming subjects who others can’t crack.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 2026