BROAD Synonyms: 209 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'broad' different from other adjectives like it?

The words deep and wide are common synonyms of broad . While all three words mean "having horizontal extent," broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered. // broad shoulders

Q: Where would 'deep' be a reasonable alternative to 'broad'?

The synonyms deep and broad are sometimes interchangeable, but deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point. // a deep cupboard // deep woods

Q: When could 'wide' be used to replace 'broad'?

The words wide and broad are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wide is more common when units of measurement are mentioned, or when applied to unfilled space between limits. // rugs eight feet wide // a wide doorway

broad

adjective

ˈbrȯd

Definition of broad

as in wide

having a greater than usual measure across an unusually broad expanse of water in the island-dotted lake

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in extensive

having considerable extent her broad knowledge of American politics makes her a much-sought-after guest on talk shows

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in obvious

not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation gave them a broad hint that it was time to leave

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in general

relating to the main elements and not to specific details a broad overview of the topic

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word broad different from other adjectives like it?

The words deep and wide are common synonyms of broad. While all three words mean "having horizontal extent," broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered.

broad shoulders

Where would deep be a reasonable alternative to broad?

The synonyms deep and broad are sometimes interchangeable, but deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point.

a deep cupboard

deep woods

When could wide be used to replace broad?

The words wide and broad are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, wide is more common when units of measurement are mentioned, or when applied to unfilled space between limits.

rugs eight feet wide

a wide doorway

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 broad For Greece, the investment is part of a broader effort to modernize its armed forces and enhance deterrence capabilities in a region marked by persistent security concerns. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 July 2026 Carvalho said the inaugural colloquium intentionally adopted the broad theme of royal gems and jewelry to gauge interest. — Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026 Ultra-fast responsiveness and a broad adjustment range, capable of adjusting damping force in less than 10 milliseconds. — New Atlas, 25 July 2026 Wu also points to the film’s unusually broad cast, whose ages span nearly a century. — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for broad

Recent Examples of Synonyms for broad

Adjective

Protesters blame Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and demand his resignation, but the demonstrations have since expanded into a wider anger over government accountability, spreading to other cities.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
Demonstrators have clashed this week with police officers, whose tactics have further fueled youth anger and drawn wider support for the protest movement.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 25 July 2026

Definition of wide

Adjective

Leading firms are actively recruiting professionals with extensive client-side experience to enhance service delivery.

— Will Johnson, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Burke’s lawyers sought to expose weaknesses in the prosecution’s case, questioning why investigators had not conducted more extensive testing, including DNA analysis, on certain items found in Burke’s home or on the exterior of his Tesla.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2026

Definition of extensive

Adjective

In unionized environments with collective agreements, policy and law require a job posting even when the hire is obvious.

— Jason Walker PsyD, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Running was the most obvious trigger, but long walks, certain pilates classes, tight workout clothes, bathing suits, anything that involved movement or compression made the discomfort worse.

— Anonymous, Allure, 23 July 2026

Definition of obvious

Adjective

With Robertson in the lineup heading into training camp, general manager Jim Nill now has some options.

— Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 22 July 2026
With multiple companies able to utilize general intelligence similarly, what will differentiate your firm from another will be the ability of your model to understand the work that needs to be done.

— TerDawn DeBoe, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of general

Adjective

Missouri’s sweeping 6th Congressional District, historically a Republican stronghold, stretches across northern Missouri and touches Kansas City’s Northland.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
When the government raised fuel prices by 50% in 2019, nationwide protests quickly escalated into broader anti-government unrest and were met with a sweeping security crackdown and an internet blackout.

— Chris Lau, CNN Money, 26 July 2026

Definition of sweeping

Adjective

In Kurzweil’s version, the singularity involves an unmistakable break in which machine intelligence overtakes humanity and technological progress becomes impossible to predict.

— Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 27 July 2026
Brabus has spent almost five decades applying its unmistakable design language to some of the world’s most powerful machines.

— Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 26 July 2026

Definition of unmistakable

Adjective

This may not affect the person’s overall testosterone levels and sperm counts, as the uninjured testicle may be able to compensate.

— Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
At Airbus’s facilities, engineers will carry out aircraft-level integration tests focused on validating the overall aircraft design, battery interfaces and energy-management systems.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 July 2026

Definition of overall

Cite this Entry

Style

“Broad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/broad. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of broad

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on broad

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

sultry

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes