as in oceans
an immeasurable depth or space
looking down at the dark ocean from the ship's rail, the cruise passenger felt as though he was staring into an abyss
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Recent Examples of abysses
Jean-Pierre is an artifact of an age that looks recent on paper but feels prehistoric in practice—the age of pantsuits, the word ’empowerment,’ the musical Hamilton, the cheap therapeutic entreaties to ‘work on yourself’ and ‘lean in’ to various corporate abysses.
—
Literary Hub, 17 Dec. 2025
On the other side of the country, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, a longtime reader favorite, is a warm alternative to sterile airport abysses.
—Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2024
Literary Hub, 17 Dec. 2025
On the other side of the country, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, a longtime reader favorite, is a warm alternative to sterile airport abysses.
—Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abysses
Noun
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These submarines also feature advanced stealth characteristics, modern sonar systems, and surveillance capabilities designed for multi-mission operations across the world’s oceans.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Northwest Passage connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Canadian Arctic into the Baffin Sea, bringing vessels close to Greenland, then south of Greenland in the North Atlantic to the United Kingdom.—
Lori Ann LaRocco,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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While there has been a good amount of movement, there are still some wide chasms on a few key issues, sources caution.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
6 Mar. 2026
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Gaping construction holes may be eyesores for visitors, but to those of us who live and work in Central Indiana these chasms represent our future — projects that will infuse Indianapolis with new life.—
Shari Rudavsky,
IndyStar,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The world’s continents are fringed by vast expanses of sand and mud.—
David George Haskell,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
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Driving east on Route 80 toward the Meta site in Holly Ridge, an unincorporated rural community about 15 minutes east of Rayville—the landscape is defined by flat expanses of soybean and cotton fields, punctuated by grain silos, grazing cows, and the occasional tractor.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abysses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abysses. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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