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
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The top leagues are where the biggest clubs play – think Manchester United and Bayern Munich – with rosters of global superstars who are paid unfathomable wages.—
Tribune Content Agency,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Apr. 2026
-
In recent years, extreme weather events have caused unfathomable economic damage, and those costs are passed on to homeowners, renters, and small businesses through higher rates for insurance.—
Scott Wiener,
Oc Register,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Motives are like deep-sea fish — even our own.—
Sara Wheeler,
Big Think,
17 Apr. 2026
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The trial took place at a depth of 11,483 feet (3,500 meters) during a deep-sea science expedition involving the Chinese research ship named Haiyang Dizhi 2, according to the South China Morning Post.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Grief isn’t an infinite resource.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
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Like school districts across the country, CPS is forced to manage a finite pool of resources against an infinite rise in demand.—
Megan De Mar,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Other Notable Discoveries White himself identified four new species — a new skate, ray, deepwater catshark and chimaera — also known as a ghost shark.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
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Elsewhere, Brazil and Mexico agreed to jointly explore deepwater sites in the Gulf of Mexico, though any potential crude output could take years to materialize.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Being in the band for 10 years, that’s nearly a third of my life, and the vast majority of my creative life.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
11 Apr. 2026
-
All in a place where people are living atop vast deposits of coal, oil, and gas.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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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
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The long-term effects of nodule mining on deep-sea biodiversity are unknown—like so much of the deep ocean and its fertile benthic ecosystems, whose mysteries scientists are only beginning to unravel.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The same goes for the San Diego-Scripps conservation area, except for the recreational taking of coastal pelagic species (northern anchovy, Pacific sardine, Pacific mackerel and jack mackerel) by hook and line only.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
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Kona Blackwater Dive is an advanced, thrilling dive over deep water (thousands of feet) to witness the nightly migration of pelagic, alien-like and larval creatures.—
Ben Davidson,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This photograph aims to highlight the delicate balance of marine ecosystems, showcasing the beauty of the king penguins in their natural habitat, while also underscoring the importance of preserving these unique underwater forests.—
PhotoVogue,
Vogue,
22 Apr. 2026
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The California marine heat wave is already having an impact on the Pacific Ocean’s food web.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abyssal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abyssal. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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