Definition of widenext

wide

2 of 2

adverb

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

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 wide
Adjective
The states alleged in their lawsuit that the acquisition will substantially throttle competition in wide-release and top-grossing theatrical distribution and cable licensing in violation of antitrust laws. Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026 Federal funding for local governments In the federal system, states and localities rely on the federal government for a wide range of grants and other funding. Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 24 July 2026
Adverb
Most people who fly Confederate flags in their front yards are a little too paranoid to leave den windows open wide, but not Pinson. Literary Hub, 24 July 2026 Naturally, that meant the questions and answers were wide-ranging. Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wide
Adjective
  • Candidates running for the 5th District will have to represent a broad swath of urban, suburban and rural voters, including eastern Kansas City and places hours away such as Jefferson City, the state’s capital city.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
  • When the government raised fuel prices by 50% in 2019, nationwide protests quickly escalated into broader anti-government unrest and were met with a sweeping security crackdown and an internet blackout.
    Chris Lau, CNN Money, 26 July 2026
Adjective
  • Leading firms are actively recruiting professionals with extensive client-side experience to enhance service delivery.
    Will Johnson, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Burke’s lawyers sought to expose weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, questioning why investigators had not conducted more extensive testing, including DNA analysis, on certain items found in Burke’s home or on the exterior of his Tesla.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2026
Adverb
  • There are few travel wins quite as satisfying as booking a flight for less than dinner out—and Frontier has built a loyal following around exactly that.
    Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 July 2026
  • Standing on opposite sides of the protests, the pair fall for each other despite the divide, recognizing in one another a restlessness neither can quite name.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 23 July 2026
Adjective
  • For a natural, lash-enhancing effect, Briceno suggests pressing the pencil directly into the roots of your lashes rather than drawing a thick line above them.
    Marci Robin, Allure, 24 July 2026
  • In the human body, thick bones absorb the most X-rays, and appear white on the resultant image.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 July 2026
Adjective
  • Missouri’s sweeping 6th Congressional District, historically a Republican stronghold, stretches across northern Missouri and touches Kansas City’s Northland.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
  • When the government raised fuel prices by 50% in 2019, nationwide protests quickly escalated into broader anti-government unrest and were met with a sweeping security crackdown and an internet blackout.
    Chris Lau, CNN Money, 26 July 2026
Adverb
  • Anything below 20,000 double rubs may wear down faster and is better suited to a bouclé loveseat, accent chair or other low-traffic piece of bouclé furniture.
    Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
  • That adoption, which had previously been unreported, seems consistent for a team that leans on data, employs a Gen Z roster and trusts a coaching staff stocked with millennials who care how fast their pitchers throw ball four.
    Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Adjective
  • Both areas have deep sediment soil that sit atop alluvial valleys.
    Syra Ortiz-Blanes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • Even a deep black pencil can feel softer and more natural because the pigment doesn’t sit as sharply on top of the skin.
    Marci Robin, Allure, 24 July 2026
Adverb
  • But unlike the scramble to rescue coral babies a few years back, these corals were still perfectly healthy.
    Alex Harris July 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
  • Pushing up, squeezing play and trying to regain the ball in advanced positions is a perfectly viable and often successful strategy, particularly when treated as a useful add-on to quality in possession.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wide. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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