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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
  • For capybara lovers who may not be quite ready to own an exotic pet, the following are places to visit them in the commonwealth.
    Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
  • As the days grow shorter and darker, and temperatures drop, there’s nothing quite like knowing there’s a warm, welcoming bed awaiting you at home to usher in a cozy night’s sleep, and long, languorous mornings when time allows.
    Hannah Coates, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Some models suggest that K2-18b is a hycean world — an ocean planet with a thick atmosphere of hydrogen — and the signature of dimethyl sulfide was detected by the James Webb Space Telescope.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Its fabric is thick but not too heavy, according to reviewers, which is great for someone like me whose body temperature fluctuates constantly.
    Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This is a sister organization to the Heritage Foundation, the think tank behind Project 2025—a sweeping conservative policy blueprint aimed at reshaping the federal government by expanding presidential power, dismantling parts of the civil service, and rolling back regulations across agencies.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Despite signaling a greater openness to global talent, the policy does not represent a sweeping liberalization of China's immigration approach.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2025
Adverb
  • This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle's weight can push water out of the way.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • However, research shows that deep breathing can help people fall asleep faster by calming the nervous system and slowing their heart rate.
    Carley Millhone, Health, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Driving through deep water can also negatively affect a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 4 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 7 Oct. 2025.

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