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Definition of deepnext
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deep

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

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
This coloring occurs because deep, compact ice absorbs light’s longer wavelengths—like reds and yellows—and scatters shorter blue wavelengths back toward our eyes. Laura Kiniry, Popular Science, 22 Jan. 2026 In a new study led by researchers at Stanford University, scientists examined how deep-ocean earthquakes beneath the Southern Ocean may be influencing surface ecosystems around Antarctica. New Atlas, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
In August, court records were mistakenly discarded, leading the clerk's office to wade ankle-deep through a landfill to retrieve them. CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025 The spooky season might not be celebrated in the ocean, but a creature that lives in La Jolla waters somehow manages to bring costumes, coffins and skeletons to the briny deep. Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deep
Adjective
  • However, the more profound concern is whether Microsoft’s substantial investments in AI infrastructure will yield returns in the near future.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
  • These forces are reshaping how countries are engaging in commerce, with profound implications for developing economies, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s latest global trade update.
    Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Wind chills could fall as low as minus 60 across Illinois, Minnesota and North and South Dakota.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Eriksson Ek had missed the previous six games, and Johansson the previous three, both of them with lower body injuries.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The other is a smaller, more mysterious handheld chunk of willow or poplar wood that may have been used to shape stone tools, according to research published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
    Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
  • But when a mysterious woman opens The Grand Lisbon restaurant, his glittering world begins to fracture, exposing the fragile balance between success, memory, and longing.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The news flew mostly under the radar, in part because of the esoteric nature of the OCC.
    Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Still, their esoteric acid rock was revered and adored by their huge and loyal fanbase, known as Deadheads.
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • When institutions offer ambiguous framing, populists provide clarity.
    Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
  • This ambiguous legacy as both enslaver and emancipator has troubled Americans ever since.
    John Garrison Marks, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • This period of intense study laid the groundwork for what would later become known as the Korean New Wave.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Shares fell during his time in government but rebounded sharply in December, reaching a record high amid intense market interest in AI.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The risks inherent in the LBO structure are exacerbated by the amount of debt PSKY must incur, its current financial position and future prospects, as well as the lengthy period to close the transaction – which PSKY itself estimates to be 12-18 months following signing.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Seen through this lens, every person possesses inherent dignity and value.
    James O. Cunningham, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Palisades Charter High School will return to its main seaside campus Tuesday morning, more than one year after the deadly Palisades fire destroyed nearly 40% of the school and forced students and faculty into temporary classrooms during extensive reconstruction and environmental remediation.
    Michelle Edgar, Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026
  • The Nevada County Arts Council does an extensive survey to track the creative economy locally.
    Kayla Moeller, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Deep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deep. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.

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