Synonyms of profound

profound

adjective

prə-ˈfau̇nd 

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

• intense
• intensive
• deep
• fierce
• terrible
• ferocious
• heavy
• acute
• furious
• violent
• explosive
• exquisite
• vicious
• fearful
• dreadful
• excruciating
• frightful
• vehement
• ghastly
• blistering
• fearsome
• keen
• hard
• heavy-duty
• intensified
• almighty
• heightened
• harsh
• severe
• hellacious
• aggravated
• concentrated
• enhanced
• deepened
• magnified
• thorough
• exhaustive
• stressed
• accentuated
• emphasized
• rigorous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• light
• moderate
• soft
• weak
• feeble
• superficial
• shallow
• qualified
• decreased
• eased
• moderated
• diminished
• toned (down)
• subdued
• reduced
• lightened
• alleviated
• lessened
• abated

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

• esoteric
• deep
• ambiguous
• scholarly
• recondite
• abstruse
• hermetic
• arcane
• mystical
• confusing
• complicated
• academic
• complex
• enigmatic
• mystic
• mysterious
• erudite
• learned
• cryptic
• uncanny
• unfathomable
• incomprehensible
• inscrutable
• unintelligible
• perplexing
• pedantic
• baffling
• puzzling
• unanswerable
• unknowable
• confounding
• impenetrable
• hard
• disorienting
• orphic
• mystifying
• bewildering
• darkling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• superficial
• simple
• shallow
• easy
• straightforward
• obvious
• understandable
• apparent
• intelligible
• comprehensible
• evident
• distinct
• clear
• facile
• manifest
• plain
• lucid
• transparent
• fathomable
• clear-cut
• perspicuous

3

as in sheer

having no exceptions or restrictions

a profound dislike of frauds and phonies

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sheer
• unconditional
• utter
• simple
• absolute
• complete
• pure
• total
• definite
• very
• outright
• real
• perfect
• damn
• huge
• damned
• deadly
• thorough
• thoroughgoing
• unmitigated
• stark
• categorical
• dreadful
• endless
• downright
• unadulterated
• unqualified
• constant
• genuine
• blank
• regular
• crashing
• consummate
• clean
• fair
• eternal
• plumb
• horrible
• unalloyed
• flat-out
• terrible
• blooming
• extreme
• straight-out
• rank
• bodacious
• out-and-out
• flat
• perpetual
• dead
• extraordinary
• authentic
• arrant
• stone
• all-out
• veritable
• classic
• unremitting
• undying
• hopeless
• main
• terrific
• supreme
• unrestricted
• confirmed
• habitual
• frightful
• superlative
• inveterate
• surpassing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• uncertain
• doubtful
• questionable
• dubious
• restricted
• qualified
• equivocal

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deep
• vast
• bottomless
• unfathomable
• abysmal
• immeasurable
• infinite
• endless
• boundless
• inestimable
• limitless
• unlimited
• abyssal
• measureless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• superficial
• surface
• shallow
• level
• smooth
• limited
• even
• skin-deep
• horizontal
• flat
• depthless
• shoal
• finite
• confined
• two-dimensional
• plane
• flush
• restricted
• measured

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of profound

In an unsigned farewell announcement on Thursday, Salon pointed to the profound changes in the economics of independent digital journalism and said its publishing model is no longer sustainable. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2026

His actions demonstrated a profound disregard for human life and the rule of law. — News Desk, Artforum, 5 Nov. 2026

The Texas revolt will, in the long run, likely have an impact on national politics as profound as California’s transformation away from Pete Wilson–era GOP dominance in the 1990s. — Sasha Abramsky, Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2026

To play Stallone, Ippolito explored the hardships that shaped — and fueled — the older actor, including a difficult childhood, limited parental support and a profound sense of isolation. — ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026