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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
Anthocyanin, a flavonoid antioxidant responsible for their deep blue color, helps combat inflammation, Nieman said, along with the berries’ polyphenols and phenolic acids. Dan England, Outside, 5 Feb. 2026 After Monday's practice, the Patriots social media team shared a photo and videos from the session, seeming to show Maye throwing a deep ball. Matt Schooley, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
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
  • For the journalist’s son, Anshul Chhatrapati, the verdict was a moment of profound relief after a fight extending nearly two decades.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Cuddihy and his colleagues theorized that these regular encounters with fire—and their unwanted consequences—would inevitably have a profound effect on any species over tens of thousands of years.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Boxer Imane Khelif admitted to having the SRY gene, located on the Y chromosome, which is found in biological males, and undergoing hormone treatments to lower testosterone levels ahead of the 2024 Olympics in an interview with the French sports publication L'Equipe.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The appeals court sent the case back to the lower court to amend the 2024 ruling.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The truth is, presence isn’t mysterious at all.
    Daniel Coyle, Big Think, 3 Feb. 2026
  • In Season 2, eager to take on another big undercover case, Charles Nieuwendyk (Danson) gets his chance when a mysterious blackmailer targets Wheeler College president Jack Berenger (Max Greenfield), who enlists Charles to go undercover as a professor.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Deadly wildfires, immigration raids, and an esoteric yet expensive battle about redrawing congressional districts are among the topics that dominated headlines in the state last year.
    Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The debate may seem esoteric, given the party brand issues Democrats have contended with and the fact that the 2028 election is still years away.
    Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Sheinbaum has been incredibly vague about where her country stood, and this week has given roundabout and ambiguous answers to inquiries about the shipments, and dodged reporters questions in her morning press briefings.
    Michelle L. Price, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Sheinbaum has been incredibly vague about where her country stood, and this week has given roundabout and ambiguous answers to inquiries about the shipments, and dodged reporters' questions in her morning press briefings.
    CBS News, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • This looming impasse between baseball and its players’ union stands to make for some intense labor negotiations.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Corporate succession has been fraught at Disney — and the subject of intense speculation across Hollywood in recent years.
    James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Hungerstone is a delicious tribute to the inherent horrors of womanhood and the desperate and exquisite vulgarity of desire.
    Gabrielle Bellot, Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
  • But Swims buckled into the ballad, standing tall and belting through the song’s inherent ache.
    Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • China for decades has cultivated an extensive network of ties across Latin America and the Caribbean, a region that encompasses more than 30 countries and 670 million people.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026
  • For an extensive listing of my well-over one hundred analyses and postings, see the link here and the link here.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Deep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deep. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

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