1
as in bays
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
Relevance
2
as in abysses
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 ravines
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
4
as in gaps
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
5
as in vortices
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
as in engulfs
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gulfs
Noun
-
Brush piles near the entrances to shallow bays and coves are other thick cover favorites of Holley’s.—
John Phillips,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026 -
Development sends runoff into bays, further clouding the water.—
Annika Hammerschlag,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Jean-Pierre is an artifact of an age that looks recent on paper but feels prehistoric in practice—the age of pantsuits, the word ’empowerment,’ the musical Hamilton, the cheap therapeutic entreaties to ‘work on yourself’ and ‘lean in’ to various corporate abysses.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Dec. 2025
-
On the other side of the country, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, a longtime reader favorite, is a warm alternative to sterile airport abysses.—
Hannah Towey,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
Madeira’s cliffs and ravines are difficult enough that many walking holidays there are guided and focused on one part of the island, including the eight-mile forest hike through Ribeiro Frio.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2026
-
The manhunt has so far been contained to Stewart County, where search crews are up against an immediate terrain of steep hills with deep ravines or hollows, the sheriff said.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
That means closing gaps quickly, improving leadership alignment and ensuring teams are focused on what drives results.—
Sue Mysko,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
One of the most glaring gaps lies between the infrared and millimeter-wavelength radio observations, but the Probe Far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics (PRIMA) would fill much of it.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
These vortexes form when fast winds (up to 34 mph, or 21 kph) encounter obstacles in their way like islands, mountains, or volcanoes.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
12 May 2026
-
Then, these large vortices create smaller ones in a process known as the energy cascade.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
For all of these creatures, the coast’s patchwork of barrier islands, beaches, sandbars, salt marshes, tidal creeks and estuaries are vitally important for survival.—
Charles Seabrook,
AJC.com,
16 May 2026
-
That will prevent polluted excess water being sent on estuaries east and west of the lake that have befouled waters with blue-green algae that has led to massive deaths of marine life within the past decade.—
Jim Turner,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
As the oceans make up the majority of the planet’s surface, so, too, does the underworld represent the majority of all those who have ever lived here.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
Each wash cycle can release tiny plastic particles into wastewater systems, many of which eventually end up in oceans and other aquatic environments.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
To make the case, everyone who cares about the magnificent red-rock canyons of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Southern Utah needs to act now.—
Scott Braden,
Denver Post,
19 May 2026
-
That diversity is reflected in the country’s landscapes—from desert canyons to alpine peaks and coastal shores—as well as in its regional cuisines, local traditions, and one-of-a-kind experiences.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Gulfs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gulfs. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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