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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Waterfalls are the type of natural wonder people cross state lines, country lines, and even oceans for.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
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The list also includes agreements and groups on renewable energy, oceans, piracy, counterterrorism, and empowerment of women.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Those chasms would widen dramatically over the next decade, leading to Waters’ exit and Gilmour’s control of the band.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
11 Dec. 2025
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But what Lincoln understood was that the practice of giving thanks could bridge chasms that politics and war had torn open.—
Cardinal Blase Cupich,
Mercury News,
27 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Large expanses of seats were unused during the third-bottom home side’s 2-1 defeat to Forest, who are in 17th place, on Tuesday.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Trudging across six lanes of highway, and expanses of parking lot, to reach Soldier Field never had many fans, but there is zero romance in this new spot.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abysses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abysses. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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