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wide

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adverb

Synonym Chooser

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

The words broad and deep are common synonyms of wide. While all three words mean "having horizontal extent," 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

In what contexts can broad take the place of wide?

Although the words broad and wide have much in common, broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered.

broad shoulders

When is deep a more appropriate choice than wide?

In some situations, the words deep and wide are roughly equivalent. However, deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point.

a deep cupboard
deep woods

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 wide
Adjective
However, Parker became a Westeros historian, turning to Martin’s wider literary works to immerse himself in the specifics of this particular period of the fantasy universe. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2025 My preferred brand of apple butter is made by McCutcheon's, a family-run company based in Frederick, Maryland that makes a wide array of jams, jellies, and preserves. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025
Adverb
As a result, the triangulation conjecture remained wide open. Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, 6 Oct. 2025 Busquets filtered a pass behind the Revolution’s back line to his longtime teammate, but Messi’s effort rolled wide of the left post. Franco Panizo, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wide
Adjective
  • The deal, latest in a string of investment commitments, underscores OpenAI and the broader AI industry's voracious appetite for computing power as companies race toward developing AI technology that meets or exceeds human intelligence.
    Max A. Cherney, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
  • With violent crime rising across the county, Dhillon argued that broader CCW access is not just about constitutional law, but about safety.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • That game, a 6-0 win over Peru, was later the subject of an extensive investigation published by the Sunday Times that suggested the game had been fixed.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Other horror streaming services offer a more extensive selection of films for fans of scary movies.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • Drama aside, Evans said that everyone became quite close as a result of living in the student-like quarters, sharing many cafeteria meals, and being vulnerable in a rather stressful experience, together.
    Shindy Chen, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Resale values on premium EVs are notoriously bad, and with the possible exception of the Rolls-Royce Spectre, nobody has quite cracked the nut on how to build one that could conceivably be considered an heirloom.
    Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • That thick sole relieves pressure and pain, especially pain associated with conditions like plantar fasciitis.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The smoke was thick enough to cast its own shadows upon the hill.
    Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • While there are issues surrounding the advanced tech sweeping entry-level roles, the young digital natives are better prepared than most to adapt skill-wise.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
  • This isn’t a diary of an individual life but a window into a sweeping political transformation, through the eyes of one person.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • To move faster, engineers need light sources that can send multiple streams through the same fiber at once.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Nivala also says that once consensus is secured, things tend to move faster because everyone is aligned.
    Adam Gale, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • Daria stared at the arrangement of perfectly circular reddish bruises on the woman’s back, exposed by her halter top.
    Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
  • So, spending your free time on a massive project for your crush seems perfectly reasonable.
    Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wide. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.

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