Synonyms of deep

deep 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdēp 

1

as in profound

extending far downward

lowered their bucket down a deep well

the ax made a deep cut into the wood

Synonyms & Similar Words

• profound
• vast
• bottomless
• infinite
• abysmal
• unfathomable
• endless
• boundless
• abyssal
• limitless
• immeasurable
• unlimited
• inestimable
• measureless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• surface
• shallow
• superficial
• smooth
• level
• horizontal
• flat
• limited
• skin-deep
• shoal
• even
• depthless
• confined
• flush
• finite
• plane
• two-dimensional
• restricted
• measured

2

as in low

having a low musical pitch or range

the tour guide had an impressively deep voice

Synonyms & Similar Words

• low
• bass
• smoky
• grave
• throaty
• hoarse
• husky
• rough
• gruff
• boomy
• tubby

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• high
• acute
• sharp
• thin
• shrill
• treble
• penetrating
• squeaky
• high-pitched
• piping
• piercing
• strident
• tinny
• squealing
• squeaking
• earsplitting
• peeping

3

as in mysterious

being beyond one's powers to know, understand, or explain

a deep, dark secret that he took to his grave

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mysterious
• cryptic
• uncanny
• mystic
• dark
• enigmatic
• obscure
• murky
• unexplainable
• vague
• ambiguous
• impenetrable
• mystical
• inscrutable
• occult
• arcane
• confusing
• fuzzy
• metaphysical
• esoteric
• shadowy
• unfathomable
• incomprehensible
• inexplicable
• unintelligible
• supernatural
• imponderable
• unaccountable
• darkling
• unknowable
• unanswerable
• equivocal
• numinous
• recondite
• perplexing
• baffling
• puzzling
• abstruse
• unsearchable
• confounding
• disorienting
• mystifying
• bewildering
• befuddling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• understandable
• intelligible
• clear
• obvious
• apparent
• evident
• plain
• transparent
• unmistakable
• fathomable
• unambiguous
• unequivocal
• manifest
• palpable
• straightforward
• perspicuous
• open-and-shut
• patent

4

as in esoteric

difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand

her poetry is now regarded as sentimental and not very deep

Synonyms & Similar Words

• profound
• esoteric
• ambiguous
• scholarly
• recondite
• hermetic
• abstruse
• arcane
• mystical
• academic
• complex
• complicated
• confusing
• mystic
• mysterious
• enigmatic
• erudite
• cryptic
• unfathomable
• learned
• uncanny
• pedantic
• incomprehensible
• impenetrable
• inscrutable
• unintelligible
• hard
• perplexing
• unknowable
• baffling
• puzzling
• unanswerable
• darkling
• confounding
• orphic
• disorienting
• mystifying
• bewildering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shallow
• superficial
• simple
• easy
• straightforward
• clear
• understandable
• distinct
• obvious
• apparent
• intelligible
• comprehensible
• evident
• plain
• transparent
• facile
• manifest
• lucid
• fathomable
• clear-cut
• perspicuous

5

as in ambiguous

having an often intentionally veiled or uncertain meaning

one of those deep passages in the Bible that can be interpreted in any number of different ways

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ambiguous
• cryptic
• dark
• obscure
• mysterious
• mystic
• murky
• esoteric
• enigmatic
• vague
• opaque
• unclear
• nebulous
• questionable
• occult
• inscrutable
• arcane
• uncertain
• fuliginous
• Delphic
• elliptical
• equivocal
• confusing
• obscurant
• faint
• complicated
• eerie
• double-edged
• fuzzy
• recondite
• indirect
• uncanny
• shadowy
• shrouded
• shaded
• muddy
• weird
• complex
• concealed
• difficult
• abstruse
• misty
• indistinct
• hazy
• cloaked
• foggy
• disguised
• clouded
• inexplicable
• invisible
• masked
• incomprehensible
• dim
• unfathomable
• indefinite
• undefined
• indecipherable
• impenetrable
• intangible
• inexplicit
• puzzling
• perplexing
• cloudy
• inexact
• undetermined
• noncommittal
• baffling
• unknowable
• sphinxlike
• indistinguishable
• shadowlike
• inappreciable
• unanswerable
• mystifying
• obfuscatory
• confounding
• bedimmed
• impalpable
• beclouded
• circuitous
• obtuse
• bewildering
• befogged
• roundabout
• obnubilated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clear
• obvious
• plain
• accessible
• distinct
• unambiguous
• unequivocal
• strong
• certain
• understandable
• evident
• bright
• intelligible
• comprehensible
• legible
• sure
• direct
• firm
• defined
• definite
• pellucid
• explicit
• nonambiguous
• knowable
• fathomable
• visible
• straightforward
• exact
• determined
• appreciable
• tangible
• self-evident
• palpable
• self-explanatory
• unmistakable
• blatant
• patent

6

as in intense

extreme in degree, power, or effect

fell into a deep sleep after taking the potion

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intense
• intensive
• fierce
• ferocious
• heavy
• terrible
• profound
• furious
• violent
• acute
• explosive
• vicious
• fearful
• blistering
• exquisite
• dreadful
• hard
• vehement
• keen
• excruciating
• frightful
• heavy-duty
• ghastly
• fearsome
• intensified
• heightened
• harsh
• almighty
• concentrated
• hellacious
• severe
• aggravated
• enhanced
• deepened
• thorough
• exhaustive
• magnified
• stressed
• accentuated
• rigorous
• emphasized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• light
• soft
• moderate
• weak
• shallow
• superficial
• feeble
• qualified
• eased
• decreased
• toned (down)
• moderated
• subdued
• reduced
• diminished
• lightened
• alleviated
• lessened
• abated

7

as in inherent

firmly established over time

a deep devotion to obtaining justice for all, even society's most disadvantaged

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inherent
• rooted
• entrenched
• deep-seated
• deep-rooted
• lifelong
• hard-core
• persistent
• intrinsic
• settled
• confirmed
• inveterate
• chronic
• natural
• persisting
• bred-in-the-bone
• embedded
• frozen
• fixed
• unalterable
• enduring
• typical
• ingrained
• innate
• integral
• firm
• hard
• immutable
• abiding
• unchangeable
• usual
• hard-and-fast
• set
• regular
• inbred
• customary
• implanted
• habitual
• inborn
• accustomed
• instilled
• irradicable
• inculcated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• brief
• transient
• temporary
• momentary
• short-term
• ephemeral
• fleeting
• interim
• provisional
• short-lived
• impermanent

8

as in extensive

having considerable extent

an economist with a deep understanding of the forces that propel the global economy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• extensive
• wide
• broad
• sweeping
• expansive
• widespread
• extended
• comprehensive
• far-reaching
• wide-ranging
• general
• rangy
• far-flung
• infinite
• inclusive
• boundless
• endless
• global
• limitless
• unlimited
• spacious
• roomy
• capacious
• commodious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• narrow
• limited
• restricted
• circumscribed

9

as in immersed

having the mind fixed on something

I was so deep in the mystery novel that I didn't hear the doorbell

Synonyms & Similar Words

• immersed
• focused
• absorbed
• interested
• all ears
• intent
• rapt
• engrossed
• attentive
• enthralled
• engaged
• observant
• involved
• intrigued
• conscious
• watchful
• hypnotized
• open-eyed
• wide-awake
• alive
• mesmerized
• alert

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• absent
• unfocused
• remote
• distracted
• abstracted
• inattentive
• unabsorbed
• dreamy
• foggy
• oblivious
• hazy
• lost
• absentminded
• preoccupied
• faraway
• disinterested
• uninterested
• apathetic
• inobservant
• daydreaming

10

as in away

not close in time or space

an episode in her deep past that she had never spoken about, even to her husband

Synonyms & Similar Words

• away
• far
• distant
• removed
• apart
• remote
• faraway
• far-off
• far-flung
• secluded
• nowhere
• isolated
• outlying
• secret
• out-of-the-way
• obscure
• lonesome
• retired
• devious
• odd
• sequestered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• close
• near
• nearby
• adjacent
• contiguous
• nigh
• adjoining

deep

2 of 2

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

• midst
• middle
• depth
• thick
• height
• center
• heart

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

• sea
• ocean
• waters
• blue
• brine
• Neptune
• depths
• seven seas
• high seas
• basin
• blue water
• main
• Davy Jones's locker

3

as in abyss

an immeasurable depth or space

the belief that somewhere in the deep of outer space humankind will meet its ultimate destiny

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abyss
• ocean
• gulf
• expanse
• chasm
• fissure
• abysm
• hole
• cavern
• crevice
• pit
• cleft
• hollow
• void
• breadth
• emptiness
• stretch
• crevasse
• reach
• extent
• vacuum
• black hole
• spread
• nothingness
• vacancy
• vacuity

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

Recent Examples of deep

Adjective

The influence of The Wizard of Oz is prevalent; Brantley was drawn to the film’s deeper messaging—how its characters move through fantasy while wrestling with deeply human needs. —Okla Jones, Essence, 15 Jan. 2026

People are inclined to be charmed by you and also impressed by your deeper understanding. —Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 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

Phrases Containing deep

• deep freeze
• deep pocket
• deep throat
• go off the deep end
• in deep water