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abyssal

adjective

Definition of abyssalnext
1
as in unfathomable

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in deep-sea

Related Words

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 abyssal Along with the abyssal green dress, Union wore embellished leather sandal heels courtesy of Miu Miu for an extra dose of summer style. — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 12 June 2026 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 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 Even here, though, abyssal tuba notes exposed a sonic substratum. — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abyssal
  1. unfathomable
  2. deep-sea
  3. infinite
  4. deepwater
  5. vast
  6. benthic
  7. pelagic
  8. marine
Adjective
  • Hasan deftly handles political seriousness and an unfathomable history and present of war and punitive state violence against Palestinians.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Dolphins fandom has been a miserable existence for more than a quarter century now, and for reasons that extend well beyond the unfathomable 25-year playoff victory drought in a league that prioritizes parity.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of unfathomable
Adjective
  • Book a charter boat for crabbing, deep-sea fishing, or whale watching.
    — Sierra Vandervort, Travel + Leisure, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Project leader Distinguished Professor Ma Qian said the next steps include making larger demonstration parts and evaluating long-term performance under realistic marine and deep-sea conditions.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of deep-sea
Adjective
  • The scales are infinite, and the lyric combinations are infinite.
    — Rachel DeSantis, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The inspiration base isn’t a set of five or six CDs that an artist played while growing up, but rather an infinite scroll of melodies that come through their phone in 30-second blasts.
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of infinite
Adjective
  • According to Hapag-Lloyd, the average waiting time for Gemini Cooperation services calling at Shanghai’s Yangshan deepwater port is approximately five to six days, and seven to eight days for non-Gemini services.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Transocean — Shares rose 2% after the offshore drilling service contractor signed a $300 million , two-year contract for an ultra-deepwater drillship with ONGC of India, with options out to 2031.
    — Scott Schnipper, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of deepwater
Adjective
  • The technology behind these voices has grown so refined that the vast majority of the general population hasn’t even noticed the transition has been made.
    — Will Jones, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • This vast misshapen island was traditionally noted for ghosts, folktales, eccentricity, fish, and friendliness.
    — Paul Theroux, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of vast
Adjective
  • Supporting future development Project leaders described Expedition 7 as one of the most productive benthic baseline campaigns completed within the deep-sea minerals sector.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of benthic
Adjective
  • His winning series was captured in the waters of Anilao, Philippines, where pelagic and larval marine life migrate from the depths each night to feed under the cover of darkness.
    — Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Researchers also encountered glass squid and spotted a pelagic octopus feeding on a bright red jellyfish.
    — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 15 June 2026
Definition of pelagic
Adjective
  • Anyone who encounters a dead or stranded marine mammal is urged to leave the animal alone and immediately report the sighting to local wildlife authorities or the Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The former trainer has seen the world’s marine parks and the laws that govern them change for the better since starting Dolphin Project decades ago, but the fight isn’t over for him or his son.
    — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of marine

Browse Nearby Words

abyss
abyssal
abysses
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Cite this Entry

“Abyssal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abyssal. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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