profound

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adjective pro·found \ prə-ˈfau̇nd , prō- \

Definition of profound

1 a :having intellectual depth and insight

b :difficult to fathom or understand

2 a :extending far below the surface

b :coming from, reaching to, or situated at a depth :deep-seated

a profound sigh

3 a :characterized by intensity of feeling or quality

b :all encompassing :complete

profound sleep

profound deafness

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profoundly

play \-ˈfau̇n(d)-lē\ adverb

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profoundness

play \-ˈfau̇n(d)-nəs\ noun

See profound defined for English-language learners

See profound defined for kids

Examples of profound in a Sentence

Here, for the first time, a journalist gains access to the archive of one of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies in history. Its contents, as much literature as science, offer profound insight into the human condition—and into the brilliant, complex mind of the study's longtime director, George Vaillant. —Joshua Wolf Shenk, Atlantic, June 2009
This isn't escapism, or denial of grief; it is acceptance of the facts of life, the map of profound relationship to the grief that is part of life … —Tom Piazza, Why New Orleans Matters, 2005
The status of women, though probably the most profound single difference between the two civilizations, attracted far less attention than such matters as guns, factories and parliaments. —Bernard Lewis, What Went Wrong?, 2002
Despite all the respect, it was hard not to feel a twinge of schadenfreude at O'Hara's fall from esteem, which had caused him profound bitterness. —Kingsley Amis, Memoirs, 1991
His knowledge of history is profound.
Her books offer profound insights into the true nature of courage.
the profound mysteries of outer space
a profound sense of loss
His paintings have had a profound effect on her own work.

Recent Examples of profound from the Web

Though HBO’s Game of Thrones wasn’t eligible for Emmys this year, the ratings and awards juggernaut has had a profound impact on the town’s perception of what constitutes a serious, quality show.

— rebecca keegan, HWD, "How Game of Thrones Changed the Emmy Game," 4 Aug. 2017
Other presidents have drawn profound inspiration from the White House, and reflected on the immense honor of occupying it.

— jack holmes, Esquire, "Very Classy President Trump Reportedly Thinks the White House Is 'a Real Dump'," 2 Aug. 2017
Native Hawaiian culture celebrates a profound spiritual connection with the land, and few places are considered more sacred than high mountain peaks.

— ilima loomis, Science | AAAS, "How the world’s largest solar telescope rose on Maui while nearby protests derailed a larger scope," 1 Aug. 2017
As India and Pakistan celebrate their twin 70th birthday this August, the frontier post of Wagah reflects the profound dysfunction in their relations.

— The Economist, "Hissing cousinsWhy India and Pakistan hate each other," 22 July 2017
Julius Krein misunderstands the profound influence and success of Buckleyite conservatism.

— john o'sullivan, National Review, "Did William F. Buckley’s Conservative Project End in Failure?," 20 July 2017
Financial District, $$$ Hiroyuki Naruke specializes in a profound style of sushi rarely seen stateside.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Los Angeles Magazine Hot Restaurant List for July 2017," 18 July 2017
Nothing quite epitomizes Wall Street’s profound schizophrenia about Washington these days better than Jamie Dimon’s impromptu, Bastille Day, profanity-laced screed directed toward Congress and Donald Trump’s administration.

— vanityfair.com, "The Real Reason Jamie Dimon Went Berserk About America’s “Stupid Shit”," 17 July 2017
Both Thundercat’s 2011 album The Golden Age of the Apocalypse and his 2017 album Drunk take Coltrane-scale work and melt it into puddles of enharmonic bliss with profound authority.

— zach graham, GQ, "The John Coltrane Record That Made Modern Music," 17 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'profound.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of profound

Middle English, from Anglo-French parfunt, profond deep, from Latin profundus, from pro- before + fundus bottom — more at pro-, bottom

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

profound Synonyms

Synonyms

abstruse, arcane, deep, esoteric, hermetic (also hermetical), recondite

Antonyms

shallow, superficial

Near Antonyms

easy, facile, simple, straightforward; comprehensible, fathomable, intelligible, understandable; apparent, clear, clear-cut, distinct, evident, lucid, manifest, obvious, perspicuous, plain, transparent

profound

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noun pro·found \ prə-ˈfau̇nd , prō- \

Definition of profound

archaic

:something that is very deep; specifically :the depths of the sea

Recent Examples of profound from the Web

Still, in small communities the eclipse will create a profound, albeit short-lived, economic opportunity.

— mike rogoway | the oregonian/oregonlive, OregonLive.com, "Eclipse brings optimism and entrepreneurship in rural Oregon," 3 June 2017
This unshowy New York painter has spent 30 years refining her visions of rural Connecticut and the coast of New England, and six dozen of her concentrated paintings will force you to slow down, look hard and find the profound in the everyday.

— New York Times, "Art and Museums in NYC This Week," 27 Apr. 2017