1
as in unfathomable
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2
as in deep-sea
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Recent Examples of abyssal
To delve to the (geological) heart of the matter, scientists want to know the moon’s deepest secret—what’s happening at its most abyssal depths.
—
Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Apr. 2026
Advertisement The cliché of the grandmaster whose mind has been tied in knots contemplating the abyssal depths of a chess game is largely a fantasy; despite a few high-profile cases, no statistical link has been established between skill in chess and madness.
—Jordan Himelfarb, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
The heart of noir tends to be nihilism, its abyssal mood a veil that invites you to glimpse the darker machinery of a world ruled by insurmountable powers where resistance leads only to ruin.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
For its part, TMC intends to have large vessels out at sea deploying collector vehicles down to abyssal depths of 2.5-3.75 miles (4-6 km) in the Clarion Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean.
—New Atlas, 5 Apr. 2025
Seamounts are underwater mountains that rise hundreds or thousands of feet from the seafloor and can provide a vital habitat for marine life, while abyssal hills are smaller, underwater mounds.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Three years of computer modeling found the Antarctic overturning circulation – also known as abyssal ocean overturning – is on track to slow 42% by 2050 if the world continues to burn fossil fuels and produce high levels of planet-heating pollution.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 29 Mar. 2023
As an open-source project, C:DDA has its inner workings posted freely online, where anyone with a working knowledge of C++ can dive in and add weapons, recipes, and more information into the simulation's already abyssal depths.
—Eric Limer, Popular Mechanics, 17 Dec. 2018
Even here, though, abyssal tuba notes exposed a sonic substratum.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2017
Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Apr. 2026
Advertisement The cliché of the grandmaster whose mind has been tied in knots contemplating the abyssal depths of a chess game is largely a fantasy; despite a few high-profile cases, no statistical link has been established between skill in chess and madness.
—Jordan Himelfarb, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
The heart of noir tends to be nihilism, its abyssal mood a veil that invites you to glimpse the darker machinery of a world ruled by insurmountable powers where resistance leads only to ruin.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
For its part, TMC intends to have large vessels out at sea deploying collector vehicles down to abyssal depths of 2.5-3.75 miles (4-6 km) in the Clarion Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean.
—New Atlas, 5 Apr. 2025
Seamounts are underwater mountains that rise hundreds or thousands of feet from the seafloor and can provide a vital habitat for marine life, while abyssal hills are smaller, underwater mounds.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Three years of computer modeling found the Antarctic overturning circulation – also known as abyssal ocean overturning – is on track to slow 42% by 2050 if the world continues to burn fossil fuels and produce high levels of planet-heating pollution.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 29 Mar. 2023
As an open-source project, C:DDA has its inner workings posted freely online, where anyone with a working knowledge of C++ can dive in and add weapons, recipes, and more information into the simulation's already abyssal depths.
—Eric Limer, Popular Mechanics, 17 Dec. 2018
Even here, though, abyssal tuba notes exposed a sonic substratum.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abyssal
Adjective
-
The 20-year-old has struck out 32 batters in 18 2/3 innings — an almost unfathomable rate.—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
-
This is not like building to be able to compete with the relentless depth of the Thunder or the unfathomable length of Victor Wembanyama and youth of the Spurs.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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An officer, Casillas also became a qualified deep-sea diver while based in Korea.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
3 June 2026
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Proponents of deep-sea mining say the ocean is huge and that the effects found during the 2022 test were isolated.—
Harry Stevens,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
And truly, only love catches us, in its infinite, glorious forms.—
Stephanie Mack,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
-
Niles said capital isn’t infinite, despite how much of it has poured into the AI trade.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
Adjective
-
Eisbrenner chose Brownsville for its deepwater access, low vessel traffic, and her conviction that the oil-rich Permian Basin in West Texas would eventually flood the region with excess natural gas.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
24 May 2026
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Brazil, the region’s largest oil and gas producer, is now a global leader in deepwater and ultra-deepwater production and aims to rank among the world’s top five crude producers by 2030, driven by prolific fields such as Búzios.—
Juan Pablo Spinetto,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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With elevations ranging from 5,500 feet to nearly 13,000 feet, the varied topography of the forest provides a vast playground suited for every season.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
This is a place defined by vast open spaces, minimal human footprint, and a profound sense of connection to nature.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
By filtering fine organic particles from the water and stabilizing sediments, sea pansies participate in benthic nutrient cycling — the process by which nutrients are exchanged between the water column and the ocean floor.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2026
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Recognizable by their strong pharyngeal teeth used to crush mollusc shells, black carps can significantly impact local ecosystems by feeding on mussels and snails, and competing with other native benthic fishes like smallmouth buffalo.—
Cheyenne Derksen,
Oklahoman,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Sargassum includes pelagic species of brown seaweed that have their origin offshore in the Atlantic Ocean and float on its surface, according to the FWC.—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
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And although most marine mammals are coastal, some pelagic whales and dolphins dwell far offshore.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
So began the journey to create a hideaway resort sensitive to the natural environment and a marine reserve with the aim to recover the coral reefs damaged by dynamite fishing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
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However, since it’s naturally found in warm marine waters, people with open wounds can be exposed to Vibrio vulnificus through direct contact with seawater.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abyssal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abyssal. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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