deep 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdēp How to pronounce deep (audio)
Definition of deepnext
1
as in profound
extending far downward lowered their bucket down a deep well the ax made a deep cut into the wood

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2
as in low
having a low musical pitch or range the tour guide had an impressively deep voice

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3
as in mysterious
being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain a deep, dark secret that he took to his grave

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4
as in esoteric
difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand her poetry is now regarded as sentimental and not very deep

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5
as in ambiguous
having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning one of those deep passages in the Bible that can be interpreted in any number of different ways

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6
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect fell into a deep sleep after taking the potion

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7
as in rooted
firmly established over time a deep devotion to obtaining justice for all, even society's most disadvantaged

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8
as in extensive
having considerable extent an economist with a deep understanding of the forces that propel the global economy

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9
as in immersed
having the mind fixed on something I was so deep in the mystery novel that I didn't hear the doorbell

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10
as in away
not close in time or space an episode in her deep past that she had never spoken about, even to her husband

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deep

2 of 2

noun

1
as in midst
the most intense or characteristic phase of something the kind of cold weather that we usually have only in the deep of winter

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2
as in sea
the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three-fourths of the earth sailors exploring the farther reaches of the briny deep

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3
as in abyss
an immeasurable depth or space the belief that somewhere in the deep of outer space humankind will meet its ultimate destiny

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word deep different from other adjectives like it?

The words broad and wide are common synonyms of deep. While all three words mean "having horizontal extent," deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point.

a deep cupboard
deep woods

Where would broad be a reasonable alternative to deep?

The meanings of broad and deep largely overlap; however, broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered.

broad shoulders

When is it sensible to use wide instead of deep?

In some situations, the words wide and deep are roughly equivalent. However, 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 deep
Adjective
The orange juice, peach preserves, mace, thyme, and deep umami flavors from soy and Worcestershire sauce all work together to create a flavor that goes down to the bone. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025 Madewell Longline Straight-Leg Jeans While these jeans are designed in a slightly deeper blue wash, the fading down the legs keeps them right in line with Crawford’s pair. —Jamie Allison Sanders, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
Pour enough of the batter into the prepared baking dish to cover the bottom with a layer about 1/4-inch deep. —Georgeanne Brennan, Mercury News, 5 June 2025 Rick Carlisle routinely stretches his rotation to 11 deep. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for deep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deep
  1. profound
  2. low
  3. mysterious
  4. esoteric
  5. ambiguous
  6. intense
  7. rooted
  8. extensive
Adjective
  • But, unsurprisingly, his favorite aspect of the place is its profound quietness.
    — Rosecrans Baldwin, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Our parents’ generation could count on stability, security, predictability — and profound corporate loyalty that cut both ways.
    — Nino Paoli, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Definition of profound
Adjective
  • Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
  • For those looking to get ahead, the best career training might not come from a classroom or a corporate internship, but from a low-wage job in the service industry, says Jeetu Patel, now chief product officer at Cisco.
    — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025
Definition of low
Adjective
  • Gehman, then a graduate student earning a doctorate in disease ecology, had heard about a mysterious illness sweeping through the Pacific coast’s iconic invertebrates.
    — JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Since its discovery in 2009, scientists have made little headway in understanding the mysterious origins of these excess gamma rays.
    — Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
Definition of mysterious
Adjective
  • The basic logic of the drink is, as mentioned, Negroni-like, but more esoteric on a number of fronts.
    — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2025
  • But this seems to me to be a far more likely possibility than Jesus making legendary journeys to India, Egypt, or even Britain, so popular in esoteric lore.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Definition of esoteric
Adjective
  • One of the bigger headlines going into Saturday has been the ambiguous departure of Auburn captain and running back Damari Alston.
    — Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
  • How this will work in practice is also ambiguous, as well as who will keep the peace.
    — Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Definition of ambiguous
Adjective
  • Thus, current fears reinforce a pre-existing localism, and infuse it with new and intense emotions.
    — JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
  • After at least half a decade of acute concern about the way that platforms such as Instagram may affect young people, as well as intense debate about how best to keep kids safe online, Meta has arrived at a label that was invented in the 1980s because parents were upset by movies such as Gremlins.
    — Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025
Definition of intense
Adjective
  • In an era when so many foods are available year-round, delicata remains firmly rooted in its time.
    — Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025
  • From banyas in Russia to hammams in Turkey and sentos in Japan, communal bathing is deeply rooted in many cultures.
    — Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 13 Oct. 2025
Definition of rooted
Adjective
  • The weapons of the Hwasong-11 series are short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) based on Russia’s Iskander missiles, which have seen extensive use in Moscow’s devastating strikes across Ukraine.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Laura Modiano, who heads up OpenAI's startups division in EMEA, drew a comparison between American and European founders based on her extensive work with founders across both regions and rolling out AI features.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2025
Definition of extensive

Phrases Containing deep

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deems
deep
deepen
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Cite this Entry

“Deep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deep. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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