1
as in unfathomable
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2
as in deep-sea
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Recent Examples of abyssal
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
Before New Horizons flew by, scientists thought there wouldn’t be much in the way of geological activity happening out there on the fringe, where temperatures are decidedly abyssal and materials tend to freeze in place.
—National Geographic, 14 July 2016
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
Before New Horizons flew by, scientists thought there wouldn’t be much in the way of geological activity happening out there on the fringe, where temperatures are decidedly abyssal and materials tend to freeze in place.
—National Geographic, 14 July 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abyssal
Adjective
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But with trillion-dollar valuations, AI developments outpacing regulators, and products that control the future flow of information, that reality isn’t all that unfathomable.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The brightest spots are painted by Peter Diamandis, a technology zealot who makes the case for AI infusing humanity with once-unfathomable superpowers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Voice 370, representing the families of some of those aboard the missing plane, urged the government to extend Ocean Infinity's contract and to consider similar arrangements with other deep-sea exploration companies.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Weston earned his radio and TV certificate in 1965, leaving the research facility a year later to join Divcon (now part of Oceaneering International), a commercial diving company based in London that developed deep-sea helium diving helmets.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The big reason for the orbital data center push is near-infinite access to solar energy, and fewer environmental concerns (rocket launches notwithstanding).—
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
7 Mar. 2026
-
In a world where content is becoming truly infinite, what keeps them is connection.—
Lin Cherry,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The shorter trips to Europe don’t require as many of the largest tankers—undermining demand for the deepwater terminals.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Among the clearest statements of China’s intent in the Western Hemisphere came in the fall of 2024, when Xi traveled to Peru to inaugurate the Chancay Port, the largest deepwater facility on the western coast of South America.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The vast majority of the strikes against internal security services thus far have been conducted by the United States.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
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In the years following Deng Xiaoping’s turn toward a capitalist economy, some Chinese intellectuals felt a kind of spiritual malaise; Deng’s reforms had failed to provide moral direction for a vast and proud former empire.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Arctic and sub-Arctic waters are nutrient-rich during the summer, which supports booming populations of amphipods and other benthic organisms.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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According to the study authors, these changes can be tied to stagnation and decline in the ocean’s biodiversity, particularly among benthic animals, or animals associated with the bottom of the sea, such as corals, crustaceans, and brachiopods.—
Sam Walters,
Discover Magazine,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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One third of pelagic sharks and rays are now threatened with extinction.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Shallow slip The researchers found that, in the case of Tōhoku, the normal layer of firm rock that usually sits between the plates actually consisted of a 30-meter-thick layer of pelagic clay, a soft, slippery substance that accumulated there over millions of years as microscopic particles settled.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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In addition to containing marine collagen sourced from fish, this powder features vitamin C from acerola cherry and silicon from bamboo, the latter of which helps provide strength and structure to hair, skin, and nails.—
Emily Orofino,
Vogue,
4 Mar. 2026
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Blake Faucett, marine mammal biologist with FWC and the onsite lead for the manatee rescue, described the animal’s condition.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abyssal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abyssal. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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