1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
a profound silence fell over the audience after the last note had sounded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in esoteric
difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand
a profound observation about good and evil that few listeners fully grasped
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sheer
having no exceptions or restrictions
a profound dislike of frauds and phonies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deep
extending far downward
with eyes wide with disbelief, the explorers made their way through a canyon more profound than any they had ever imagined
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of profound
In the turbulent spring of 1793, the young United States confronted its first profound foreign policy crisis.
—
Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
These uprisings often last several days and, at times like the 2022 protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the religious police, have brought about profound change in society.
—Cnn Staff, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
The shift was so profound, so immediate, that keeping it to myself felt impossible.
—Self Staff, SELF, 9 Jan. 2026
As profound as the hopeful gesture has been, Van Lent said another will likely be necessary once this one is deemed complete.
—Amy Green, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for profound
Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
These uprisings often last several days and, at times like the 2022 protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the religious police, have brought about profound change in society.
—Cnn Staff, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
The shift was so profound, so immediate, that keeping it to myself felt impossible.
—Self Staff, SELF, 9 Jan. 2026
As profound as the hopeful gesture has been, Van Lent said another will likely be necessary once this one is deemed complete.
—Amy Green, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for profound
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profound
Adjective
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Fan Kelly Terzis described her feelings as intense sadness and grief, but also gratitude.—
Amanda Hari,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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The study made a significant contribution, if not clarification, to this academic niche — medieval migration wasn’t seasonal, nor sporadic and intense.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The news flew mostly under the radar, in part because of the esoteric nature of the OCC.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
12 Jan. 2026
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Still, their esoteric acid rock was revered and adored by their huge and loyal fanbase, known as Deadheads.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The Rhode founder stunned in a sheer black mesh teddy with a G-string thong design and an ab-baring cutout made out of straps.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
7 Jan. 2026
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But the department has argued the sheer volume of documents that need to be found, uploaded, reviewed, redacted and published has forced it to instead release the files online on a rolling basis, with a series of enormous document dumps over the course of several days in mid-December.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This design helps the sensor capture bright highlights and deep shadows in the same frame.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
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This could be easily written off as the financial mismanagement of youth, but taken as a whole, Gen Z’s outlook on the economy is at once a rejection of conventional wisdom and a deep, almost subconscious absorption of the commodification of everything.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Bringing that experience to the screen required intensive work with the film’s young leads, Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
12 Jan. 2026
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When Indiana decided to build a water-intensive tech park in Lebanon — a city unable to provide the resource itself — the question of how the area would get water was inevitable.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The Hour of the Wolf is a far-ranging memoir about motherhood, art, family, and the way that a dog’s unconditional love can offer a rare opportunity for healing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
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The state recently launched a project providing unconditional monthly checks — averaging $500 — to families who have abused or neglected their children.—
Sarah A. Font,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Some nearby residents, including Sue Weston — the owner of Weston Gardens in Bloom, a historic garden located on Anglin Drive — have expressed fierce opposition to the data center.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Jan. 2026
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Last year, the governor tried to increase the number of in-office days to four only to face fierce resistance from his employees and their labor representatives.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Let’s talk about a few of the utter disasters unfolding.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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Those on the right, determined to make the case that this was an officer killing in self-defense, should instead be beginning with this utter failure to protect the life of a civilian protester and de-escalate the situation through some means other than shooting a fellow American in the head.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Profound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profound. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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