deep cut

noun

plural deep cuts
1
music : a song that is considerably less popular and well-known than other songs on the same album or by the same artist
From there, the band careened through highlights and the occasional deep cut from its catalog …Mikael Wood
But the rocker saw an opportunity to turn casual fans on to his deep cuts—so each disc intersperses hits with lesser-known album tracks in non-chronological order.David Browne
2
: something (such as an obscure reference to a book or movie) that is recognizable to devotees but not usually to others
One of the fun things about being a Marvel fan is the franchise's ability to constantly surprise its audience with comic book deep cuts, surprising castings, and twists that no one sees coming.Alexis Nedd
deep-cut adjective
a deep-cut reference/joke

Examples of deep cut in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
President Trump headed to Capitol Hill Tuesday to push squabbling Republican members of Congress in person to set aside differences and pass his sprawling budget bill including deep cuts in spending and taxes. Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025 His new budget featured eye-popping increases for the Pentagon alongside deep cuts for social safety net programs. Ron Elving, NPR, 17 May 2025 The hearings also come as House Republicans work on portions of a bill that propose making deep cuts to Medicaid and could leave millions of people uninsured. Megan Lebowitz, NBC news, 14 May 2025 The legislation released on Sunday tries to split the difference between Republicans agitating for deep cuts to Medicaid and those eager to protect their states from changes that could force them to shoulder much higher costs. Margot Sanger-Katz, New York Times, 12 May 2025 In parallel, individual agencies are also planning deep cuts. Dan Cody, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025 This follows the Trump administration’s deep cuts to federal research agencies, science funding, including grants and contracts. Sara Schapiro, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025 The first 100 days of President Trump’s second term have been a whirlwind of action, with the imposition of steep tariffs worldwide, the detention of immigrants and deep cuts to the federal work force. The New York Times, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 Kevin Lamarque | Reuters Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s overhaul of the Department of Health and Human Services involves deep cuts to several divisions that help protect and improve the health of minority and underserved populations and eliminate health disparities in the U.S., CNBC has learned. Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1993, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deep cut was in 1993

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Cite this Entry

“Deep cut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deep%20cut. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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