1
as in unfathomable
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as in deep-sea
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Recent Examples of abyssal
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
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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Advisers were on hand to teach them the nuances of the Situation Room and the importance of maintaining calm under unfathomable stress.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
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That may sound unfathomable to any non-comic reader who watched Steven Yeun's Mark Grayson get bludgeoned, maimed, and nearly disemboweled (sorry, Atom Eve) in an episode-long, cities-spanning fight with Thragg's berzerker warrior, Conquest (Jeffrey Dean Morgan).—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This successful test is expected to sharpen the international competition for valuable deep-sea minerals.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
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The findings were made during a 2022 deep-sea expedition in the Gascoyne Marine Park aboard CSIRO’s research vessel, the RV Investigator, according to Australian outlet ABC.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The cemetery of good but dead laws is infinite; the main thing is that social forces exist.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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Amid fewer Hollywood blockbuster releases and the infinite buffet of streaming content, the movie theater business in general continues to face challenges.—
JC Reindl,
Freep.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The 500,000-gallon, conical tank holds deepwater fish from the nearby Gulf Stream.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
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Furthermore, a preliminary agreement with Egypt’s EGAS may lead to the development of five deepwater gas wells in the Mediterranean, connecting to existing infrastructure.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In 2017, Nepal joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s vast infrastructure investment program.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
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Robotic systems like Sentante could let experts treat patients remotely instead of transporting them across vast regions.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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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
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The scientists noticed a drop in their prey, such as small pelagic fishes in the case of seals and smaller benthic sharks in the case of sevengill sharks.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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For the advanced, channels around the islands work like pelagic highways, attracting more than 3,000 different marine species.—
Terry Ward,
AFAR Media,
11 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, offshore, the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge pulses with life: think harbor seals, black oystercatchers, and pelagic cormorants.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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On whale cams, clingy fish steal the show The marine scientist who recorded the accidental close-ups of the remoras’ high-speed whale surfing had placed suction-cup cameras on humpbacks during their annual migration from Antarctica to the waters off Australia’s Queensland state.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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The statement went on to detail potential marine hazards.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abyssal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abyssal. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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