Definition of abyssnext
as in ocean
an immeasurable depth or space looking down at the dark ocean from the ship's rail, the cruise passenger felt as though he was staring into an abyss

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 abyss Most only dive 20 meters — shallow enough for a lake, but not for the abyss. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Mar. 2026 Overall, its candidates continue to lean left, but the party is mostly avoiding a tumble into the abyss. Henry Olsen, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2026 In June, when the surface temperatures of the rock deep inside the abyss can claw toward 170 degrees — hot enough to kill a rattlesnake caught in the open in a few minutes — the Kaibab offers a cool reprieve. New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026 Throughout his career as a public scholar, Ehrlich was never afraid to look into the abyss. The Conversation, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for abyss
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abyss
Noun
  • Church bells ring briefly each quarter hour to sound time, their melodic peals blending with ocean breezes.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Earth’s tectonics, volcanism, oceans, atmosphere and life have all erased the geological records of the planet’s earliest eras.
    Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Meanwhile, Malcolm tries desperately to keep his own family at a distance, a great, chasm-size distance.
    Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
  • As is often true of an Allbee play, cracks in the veneer open into chasms of striving, desire, betrayal and raw revelation.
    Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Iran and the United States outlined competing proposals ahead of the talks reflecting the wide gulf on key issues.
    Munir Ahmed, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
  • The ship suffered substantial damage, and the Reagan administration retaliated by damaging or sinking three Iranian warships and three oil platforms, drastically reducing Tehran’s ability to engage in the gulf.
    Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • White clouds can be seen swirling on Earth's sunlit arc above the line separating night from day while the cratered expanse of the lunar disk stretches out below.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The single-level expanse of exhibition space has two entry points and countless options for covering its formidable length.
    Leah Ollman, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Carrot seeds are tiny and should not be sown more than 1/4-inch deep.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
  • The end of each leg contains a ballast that extends to around 20 meters (65 ft) deep.
    Etiido Uko March 13, New Atlas, 13 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Abyss.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abyss. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.

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