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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Recent Examples of gulf
Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 8 Mar. 2026
There are still nearly 100 ships outside the gulf, 40 of which are still sailing toward the region, MarineTraffic says.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
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
The Islamic Republic’s naval operation has choked off oil exports from the gulf, severely restricting international supply.
—Sylvan Lane, The Hill, 8 Mar. 2026
There are still nearly 100 ships outside the gulf, 40 of which are still sailing toward the region, MarineTraffic says.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 5 Mar. 2026
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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Just around the corner, the hotel’s compact fitness centre lures even the least fitness-enthusiastic guests, thanks to knockout treadmill views extending to the bay.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Irela Bagué, whose work as chief bay officer for Miami-Dade County helped shape the legislation, championed the bill after several iterations over several years.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Overall, its candidates continue to lean left, but the party is mostly avoiding a tumble into the abyss.—
Henry Olsen,
Washington Post,
18 Mar. 2026
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Throughout his career as a public scholar, Ehrlich was never afraid to look into the abyss.—
The Conversation,
The Conversation,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That’s due in large part to its natural beauty—towering mountains, spectacular canyons, and rushing waters inspire hiking, biking, fly-fishing and a number of other outdoor pursuits.—
Amelia Mularz,
Architectural Digest,
17 Mar. 2026
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Some trails start out as mellow, flat hikes, but eventually turn into steep, rocky scrambles, requiring hikers to use their hands to navigate around boulders or up narrow canyons.—
Owen Clarke,
Outside,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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After logging his biggest hit of the tournament, pulling a changeup into the gap in left-center field, Eugenio Suarez glided into second base and raised his arms high in the air as his Venezuela teammates emptied from the dugout to celebrate at home plate.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
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Eventually, the gap between a fifty-thousand-dollar drone and a three-million-dollar interceptor becomes important; there were reports, this past weekend, that Israel had begun to run low on interceptors.—
Bill McKibben,
New Yorker,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Single-digit cold invades North Around the same time as the heat starts blasting Phoenix, the polar vortex — a system that usually keeps frigid air penned up near the North Pole — is forecast to send its chill deep into the Midwest and East, even bordering some of the Southeast, Maue said.—
Seth Borenstein,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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Normally bomb cyclones get their energy from warm ocean waters, but this one will draw power from the polar vortex.—
Seth Borenstein,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Karim Lakhani, a political newcomer, has flooded streaming platforms with ads in a campaign largely funded by his family and its businesses.—
Jeremy Gorner,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
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Landslides, rescues, and collapsed homes on Maui Acres of farmland and homes have been flooded in Hawaii.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Take an ecotour with Pawleys Island Guide Services to explore the marshes, deltas, tidal creeks, and estuaries that wind their way around the island.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
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The area represents one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the East Coast.—
Thad Moore,
AJC.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Research from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla in the mid-2000s found that underwater ocean noise off Southern California had increased tenfold compared with the 1960s.—
Patrick Whittle,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
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The flowing layout seamlessly connects roughly 3,500 square feet of luxury interiors with about 2,700 square feet of exterior deck space and the surrounding ocean landscape.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gulf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gulf. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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