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
Mikael WoodBut 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
David Browne2
: 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
Alexis Nedd
deep-cut
adjective
a deep-cut reference/joke
Examples of deep cut in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If passed as is, this proposal would likely result in a significant midyear budget shortfall and leave Chicagoans vulnerable to deep cuts to city services.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Tomlin testified the girl had been stabbed at least four times and suffered defensive wounds — including a deep cut around the base of her right thumb — and appeared to have been cleaned before being placed in the chair, the AJC reported.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Shares jumped 4% after Bloomberg reported that the Facebook parent plans to make deep cuts to its metaverse unit.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025
Lyrically, the song is certainly better suited to the all-ages audience than some of his other, more risqué deep cuts.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025
At the same time, Washington absorbed the effects of deep cuts to the federal workforce following actions by the Department of Government Efficiency, further straining local agencies and services.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
In 2023, Argentine voters felt that neither Peronists nor center-right parties could solve the country’s crises and turned to the outsider Milei, a libertarian economist who wielded a chainsaw as a campaign prop to symbolize deep cuts to the state.
—María Victoria Murillo, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2025
Or perhaps this is the perfect opportunity to become obdurate, go weird and dive into the B-sides and deep cuts.
—Daniel Dylan Wray, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2025
Just expect hits from different eras and even some deep cuts, underrated songs.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
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Todd Feurer, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Tomlin testified the girl had been stabbed at least four times and suffered defensive wounds — including a deep cut around the base of her right thumb — and appeared to have been cleaned before being placed in the chair, the AJC reported.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 11 Dec. 2025
Shares jumped 4% after Bloomberg reported that the Facebook parent plans to make deep cuts to its metaverse unit.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025
Lyrically, the song is certainly better suited to the all-ages audience than some of his other, more risqué deep cuts.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025
At the same time, Washington absorbed the effects of deep cuts to the federal workforce following actions by the Department of Government Efficiency, further straining local agencies and services.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025
In 2023, Argentine voters felt that neither Peronists nor center-right parties could solve the country’s crises and turned to the outsider Milei, a libertarian economist who wielded a chainsaw as a campaign prop to symbolize deep cuts to the state.
—María Victoria Murillo, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2025
Or perhaps this is the perfect opportunity to become obdurate, go weird and dive into the B-sides and deep cuts.
—Daniel Dylan Wray, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2025
Just expect hits from different eras and even some deep cuts, underrated songs.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Deep cut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deep%20cut. Accessed 21 Dec. 2025.
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