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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of gulf
Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
The gulf between who Nelson really might be and how an aggregate of cultures—Colombian, American, capitalist, masculine—has molded him is the source of the play’s tragedy.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
Ferris Jabr, Smithsonian, 8 Jan. 2018
Read More: Gulf Spat Escalates as Saudi Arabia, U.A.E. Media Attack Qatar
Institutional and individual investors from the GCC sold 34.6 million riyals ($9.5 million) of Qatari stocks on Monday, the most in a single trading session since March 21.
—Glen Carey, Bloomberg.com, 30 May 2017
See All Example Sentences for gulf
Noun
China limits European equipment in telecoms infrastructure China is reportedly limiting the use of European equipment in its telecoms infrastructure, pointing to a deepening technological gulf between Beijing and the West.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
The gulf between who Nelson really might be and how an aggregate of cultures—Colombian, American, capitalist, masculine—has molded him is the source of the play’s tragedy.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
So many gulfs separate us now: geographical, anatomical, psychological.
—Ferris Jabr, Smithsonian, 8 Jan. 2018
Read More: Gulf Spat Escalates as Saudi Arabia, U.A.E. Media Attack Qatar
Institutional and individual investors from the GCC sold 34.6 million riyals ($9.5 million) of Qatari stocks on Monday, the most in a single trading session since March 21.
—Glen Carey, Bloomberg.com, 30 May 2017
See All Example Sentences for gulf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gulf
Noun
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For swimmers, the sheltered, crystalline bay can feel like a natural pool.—
Carla Vianna,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
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Researchers had been surveying the bay where it’s located for a separate study.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Sor Juana’s verses confirm that venturing into the dating pool is always like stepping into a dark abyss.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
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This version of our doomed protagonist is introduced exiting a pond, with stones dropping from her dripping-wet dress — the abyss-adjacent qualities are already in full bloom.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Or consider something more adventurous, like looking for the ghost of John Wesley Powell deep in the belly of the canyon at Phantom Ranch.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
28 Oct. 2025
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This isn’t your average hike; expect to climb, wade, swim, and scramble your way through powerful streams and natural waterfalls, all while surrounded by towering canyon walls.—
Essence,
Essence,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Despite being one of three teams to make the playoffs from the NL Central division, the gap between the Cubs and Brewers is sizable.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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The widening gap followed a private equity spending spree in 2021, as firms rushed to deploy unspent funds, with activity also boosted by ultra-low interest rates.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The new type of vortex burner can adjust the flame direction along the height of the combustion chamber.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Oct. 2025
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Cathedral Rock is one of Sedona's most iconic hikes, with its unique rock formations and vortexes that hold special healing powers.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Construction fines at the site For Smith, the biggest concern was flooding in his backyard.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Nov. 2025
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Theories range from the Fitzgerald striking a shoal and suffering bottom damage to flooding through the freighter's hatch covers, which filled the ship with water and sank it, to rogue waves, to structural flaws in the ship that the 1975 storm made deadly.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The Chesapeake Bay—the largest estuary in the continental United States—used to be packed with oysters, more than anyone today might imagine.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
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Mangroves exist in the intertidal zones of warm rivers, estuaries and bays, growing in the sediment brought to the coast by the freshwater rivers and tides, according to the Australia Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The 24 entry-level terrace rooms start at 645 square feet, with spacious balconies overlooking the garden; the 14 Upper Terrace rooms, one floor up, are the same size, but considered ocean-facing, given the elevated viewpoint.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
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Inside, the main deck lounge is fitted with floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that afford sweeping views of the ocean.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gulf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gulf. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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