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Definition of deepnext
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deep

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noun

1
as in midst
the most intense or characteristic phase of something the kind of cold weather that we usually have only in the deep of winter

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in sea
the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three-fourths of the earth sailors exploring the farther reaches of the briny deep

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

Synonym Chooser

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

The words broad and wide are common synonyms of deep. While all three words mean "having horizontal extent," deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point.

a deep cupboard
deep woods

Where would broad be a reasonable alternative to deep?

The meanings of broad and deep largely overlap; however, broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered.

broad shoulders

When is it sensible to use wide instead of deep?

In some situations, the words wide and deep are roughly equivalent. However, 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

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

The words broad and wide are common synonyms of deep. While all three words mean "having horizontal extent," deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point.

a deep cupboard
deep woods

Where would broad be a reasonable alternative to deep?

The meanings of broad and deep largely overlap; however, broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered.

broad shoulders

When is it sensible to use wide instead of deep?

In some situations, the words wide and deep are roughly equivalent. However, 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 deep
Adjective
Most treatments run two hours or more—slow, deliberate combinations of deep tissue massage and facial work that leave you somewhere between blissed-out and barely conscious. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026 Their coloration, which ranges from pale pink to deep violet, is influenced by pigmentation and habitat factors such as light exposure and sediment composition. Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
Attempting that deep of a kick with a soggy field seemed like a dubious decision to begin with. Mike Kaye updated January 3, Charlotte Observer, 4 Jan. 2026 So if your holiday spending didn’t quite dig you into this deep of a hole, debt relief programs likely aren’t the best fit for you. Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 26 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deep
Adjective
  • Whatever the issue’s current valence among the electorate, that so many high-ranking Democrats have taken it up hints at a profound, if not yet fully realized, break with the Party’s politics dating back to that escalator ride, and perhaps further still.
    Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2026
  • This series, based on a true story, explores the life of Molly Kochan (Michelle Williams), a woman living with terminal cancer who navigates her illness and childhood trauma, blending comedy and profound honesty in a way that challenges traditional narratives around death and sexuality.
    Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • But just who is getting hurt from charging low prices?
    Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Isaacman is well suited for leading the space agency during the rise of the commercial space industry, with its large potential profits and much lower launch costs because of reusable rockets.
    Thomas Black, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Circumstances vary case by case The string of mysterious deaths and disappearances began in 2023, lawmakers say, with the death of Michael David Hicks, a scientist who worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for nearly 25 years.
    Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
  • Created by Graham Yost based on Hugh Howey’s New York Times bestselling trilogy , Season 3 continues the saga of a dystopian society of 10,000 people living underground under mysterious circumstances, while revealing an origin story set centuries earlier.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • While Callaghan successfully transitioned to the more traditional newscast-style Channel 5, the loss of AGNB’s esoteric style and specific storytelling seemed to gnaw at him.
    Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
  • As the April 15 deadline for filing federal taxes approaches, many will stress over the complexities of filling out tax forms and locating seemingly esoteric documents.
    Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The problem with the exhibition is not the works of art on view, but its ambiguous premise, its unwillingness to define its terms and approach the Lost Cause with historical clarity.
    Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The services can analyze all sorts of things, from the specific — such as a hotel bill that exceeded a preset limit — to the more ambiguous, such as whether a lawyer’s description of a task was too vague to be worthy of payment.
    Joe Mahr, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The area that would bear the president’s name has been subject to some of the most intense fighting of the modern age, with tens of thousands of Ukrainian and Russian troops killed in the Donbas over the past few years.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2026
  • What keeps it from feeling too intense or drying for combination skin is the cushion of tea tree leaf water, which helps calm inflammation.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Framing developer hesitation as a market failure, as is done in AB 2166, overlooks that such uncertainty is inherent to large-scale development and new technology.
    Eliza Terziev, Oc Register, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Corte talked about the challenges inherent in working with limited available space.
    Hank Beckman, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • My daughter’s learning disabilities required extensive intervention.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The Broncos’ third-round pick didn’t take a top-30 visit or have extensive pre-draft communication with Denver, as the organization typically keeps its board close to its vest.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Deep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deep. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

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