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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

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
The oil ritual can be heated or used as-is to provide deep moisture to the hair and scalp all while adding shine and softness. Caché McClay, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025 To lower blood pressure quickly in the short term, deep breathing and relaxation techniques, like meditation, can help calm the nervous system and reduce blood pressure slightly. Alexandria Nyembwe, Health, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
In August, court records were mistakenly discarded, leading the clerk's office to wade ankle-deep through a landfill to retrieve them. CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025 The spooky season might not be celebrated in the ocean, but a creature that lives in La Jolla waters somehow manages to bring costumes, coffins and skeletons to the briny deep. Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deep
Adjective
  • The potential to help cancer patients is profound.
    Lisa Jarvis, Twin Cities, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Christo and Jeanne-Claude had a profound understanding of this.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The research team highlighted that beyond water harvesting, these coatings could help reduce urban heat island effects, lower energy needs for air-conditioning and provide climate-resilient water sources in regions facing growing heat and water stress.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2025
  • When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Not to mention the titular bugs, a swarm of blood-invading creatures discovered by her new lover, the mysterious drifter Peter Evans (Namir Smallwood).
    Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The Columbus, Ohio, police chief is speaking out for the first time since the mysterious murders of dentist Spencer Tepe and his wife, Monique Tepe.
    Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Then there was the play that made many scratch their heads — the one when the Carolina Panthers’ game-tying field goal was blocked only for an esoteric NFL rule to award the Panthers with the ball, a new set of downs and great field position.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The ideological provocations of Madonna (Ciccone) iconography and the esoteric execution of Björk songs meet (again) in Lux’s palette of fixations.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Even in agencies that have, some policies are weak or ambiguous.
    Ben Jones, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Even in agencies that have, some policies are weak or ambiguous.
    Ben Jones, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Gas and dust fall into a rotating disk around the black hole, and as the debris spirals more rapidly, it becomes superheated, releasing intense radiation.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
  • True Ipomea batatas has bright orange flesh (although modern varieties have much more intense colors than older forms), occasionally white and rarely purple.
    Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The risks inherent in the LBO structure are exacerbated by the amount of debt PSKY must incur, its current financial position and future prospects, as well as the lengthy period to close the transaction – which PSKY itself estimates to be 12-18 months following signing.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Seen through this lens, every person possesses inherent dignity and value.
    James O. Cunningham, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • The extensive archaeological study covered an area of over three-quarters of a mile.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
  • His work has been so extensive, France’s minister of culture awarded him the prestigious Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres this year.
    Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deep. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

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