Synonyms of gulf

gulf 1 of 2

noun

ˈgəlf 

1

as in bay

a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline

we dipped our feet in the warm waters of the gulf

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bay
• estuary
• cove
• firth
• loch
• inlet
• port
• creek
• fjord
• embayment
• bight
• harbor
• bayou
• arm
• strait
• sound
• narrow
• road(s)
• roadstead
• backwater
• slough

2

as in abyss

an immeasurable depth or space

the gulf of understanding between the two men was too wide for them to ever get along

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

3

as in canyon

a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage

the gulf was too wide to cross, so we had to hike down into it and go through it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• canyon
• ravine
• gorge
• valley
• gap
• saddle
• gulch
• col
• pass
• abyss
• chasm
• crevice
• flume
• fissure
• defile
• gill
• trench
• linn
• notch
• cleft
• couloir
• kloof
• basin
• crevasse
• vale
• glen
• gutter
• dell
• dale
• hollow
• kettle
• arroyo
• gully
• floodplain
• cirque
• wadi
• trough
• combe
• wash
• shut-in
• barranca
• cwm
• coulee
• draw
• nullah

4

as in gap

an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)

a wide gulf in the defensive wall meant the city was in grave danger

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gap
• hole
• crevice
• rift
• interval
• opening
• void
• fissure
• breach
• discontinuity
• crack
• rent
• separation
• break
• interstice
• hiatus
• slit
• cleft
• chasm
• split
• abyss
• cavity
• pore
• slot
• fracture
• orifice
• aperture
• rupture
• cranny
• interspace
• notch
• severance
• gape
• chink
• sundering

5

as in vortex

water moving rapidly in a circle with a hollow in the center

the doomed ship was sucked into the gulf and consigned to Davy Jones's locker

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vortex
• maelstrom
• whirlpool
• swirl
• eddy
• tourbillion
• whirl

gulf

2 of 2

verb

as in to flood

to cover with a flood

with the administration gulfed by so many real problems, it's absurd for the president to concern himself with this nonissue

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flood
• engulf
• overwhelm
• drown
• swamp
• submerge
• deluge
• inundate
• overflow
• overcome
• flush
• flow
• stream
• submerse
• wet
• overrun
• avalanche
• smother
• spurt
• gush
• sluice
• spout
• soak
• pour
• drench
• douse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• drain
• dry
• dehydrate
• parch

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of gulf

Noun

What wasn’t debatable was the gulf between the two teams from the opening whistle. — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

The tournament has largely been a success from the football side, but the gulf in quality between teams has been notable at times, with individual errors rife. — Mark Carey, New York Times, 28 June 2026

Located in the gulf between Oman and Iran, the Strait of Hormuz is recognized as one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. — Anniek Bao,sam Meredith, CNBC, 26 June 2026

The presence of a song from Lenker can’t help but highlight the gulf between Dance of Love and Dream Me a Dream. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 22 June 2026