Synonyms of steep

steep 1 of 3

adjective

ˈstēp 

1

as in mountainous

having an incline approaching the perpendicular

a very steep rock face that is nearly impossible to climb

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mountainous
• vertical
• precipitous
• sheer
• sloped
• abrupt
• perpendicular
• bold
• hilly
• tilted
• craggy
• straight
• plumb
• angled
• scarped
• tipped
• heeled
• slanted
• inclined
• hillocky
• listed
• cocked
• canted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• moderate
• gradual
• soft
• gentle
• smooth
• flat
• level
• horizontal
• even
• flush
• plane
• unruffled
• unwrinkled

2

as in excessive

going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount

we would like to hire him, but his salary demands are just too steep

Synonyms & Similar Words

• excessive
• extreme
• insane
• extravagant
• infinite
• exorbitant
• endless
• lavish
• inordinate
• undue
• intolerable
• fancy
• over the top
• baroque
• immoderate
• stiff
• unconscionable
• unbearable
• overdue
• towering
• plethoric
• unmerciful
• devilish
• inappropriate
• overextravagant
• overmuch
• overweening
• improper
• a bit much
• immeasurable
• unjustifiable
• limitless
• boundless
• unwarranted
• unseemly
• thick
• unrestrained

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reasonable
• moderate
• modest
• inadequate
• insufficient
• minimum
• temperate
• minimal
• middling
• deficient

steep

2 of 3

verb

1

as in to suffuse

to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle

grew up steeped in the ways of his ancestors

a town steeped in history

Synonyms & Similar Words

• suffuse
• flood
• charge
• invest
• infuse
• inoculate
• fill
• inculcate
• imbue
• indue
• overwhelm
• plant
• drown
• engrain
• endue
• invigorate
• enliven
• animate
• ingrain
• leaven
• saturate
• submerge
• permeate
• pervade
• deluge
• inundate
• implant
• instill
• impregnate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deprive
• take (away)
• clear
• strip
• eliminate
• remove
• empty
• divest

2

as in to soak

to wet thoroughly with liquid

chew fresh ginger that has been steeped in hot water to aid digestion

Synonyms & Similar Words

• soak
• drown
• saturate
• dip
• macerate
• wash
• sodden
• drench
• submerge
• immerse
• impregnate
• sop
• water
• penetrate
• swamp
• souse
• water-soak
• damp
• seethe
• waterlog
• inundate
• hydrate
• marinate
• infiltrate
• permeate
• bathe
• dampen
• moisten
• presoak
• humidify
• douse
• swill
• dowse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dry
• wring (out)
• drain
• empty
• dehydrate
• void
• sear
• desiccate
• parch
• dehumidify

steep

3 of 3

noun

as in cliff

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cliff
• precipice
• bluff
• plateau
• crag
• ridge
• tor
• tableland
• mesa
• butte
• mountain
• peak
• mount
• sierra
• hill
• table
• dome
• highland
• prominence
• upland
• altitude
• elevation
• foothill
• knoll
• hillock
• alp
• sugarloaf
• rise
• hump
• eminence
• knob
• downs
• mound
• height
• hummock

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• valley
• lowland
• depression
• hollow
• vale
• dale
• glen
• basin
• flat
• bottom
• plain
• dell
• floodplain
• tidewater
• bottomland
• fen
• dingle

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of steep are abrupt, precipitous, and sheer. While all these words mean "having an incline approaching the perpendicular," steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult.

a steep hill

a steep dive

When would abrupt be a good substitute for steep?

In some situations, the words abrupt and steep are roughly equivalent. However, abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level.

a beach with an abrupt drop-off

When might precipitous be a better fit than steep?

While in some cases nearly identical to steep, precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical.

the river winds through a precipitous gorge

When is it sensible to use sheer instead of steep?

Although the words sheer and steep have much in common, sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse.

sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of steep

Adjective

Maryland is one of 24 states and the District of Columbia that are suing the Trump administration over its steep and sudden cuts to AmeriCorps. —Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 2 May 2025

James considered taking an even steeper pay cut to help the Lakers land an impact player in free agency, with James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, Klay Thompson and Jonas Valančiūnas on his list, league sources confirmed. —Jovan Buha, New York Times, 2 May 2025

Verb

What this really means: fans old and new can steep themselves in the fresh scent. —Jackie Fields, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025

Also impactful was the teas’ steeping time, with teas that were brewed for a longer amount of time adsorbing more metal ions than teas that were brewed for a shorter amount of time. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 25 Feb. 2025

Noun

French Press: The French press is a pot with that steeps the coffee grounds before separating it with a plunger. —Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2025

What To Know The company made a strong Wall Street debut but shares in the company experienced sharp rises and steep falls over the last year—from peaks of around $66 to lows of about $12. Often, changes appeared to correlate with significant events involving Trump himself. —Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024