Synonyms of steep

steep 1 of 3

adjective

ˈstēp 

1

as in mountainous

having an incline approaching the perpendicular

a very steep rock face that is nearly impossible to climb

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mountainous
• vertical
• precipitous
• sheer
• sloped
• abrupt
• perpendicular
• bold
• hilly
• tilted
• craggy
• straight
• plumb
• angled
• scarped
• tipped
• heeled
• slanted
• inclined
• hillocky
• listed
• cocked
• canted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• moderate
• gradual
• soft
• gentle
• smooth
• flat
• level
• horizontal
• even
• flush
• plane
• unruffled
• unwrinkled

2

as in excessive

going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount

we would like to hire him, but his salary demands are just too steep

Synonyms & Similar Words

• excessive
• extreme
• insane
• extravagant
• infinite
• exorbitant
• endless
• lavish
• inordinate
• undue
• fancy
• intolerable
• stiff
• over-the-top
• baroque
• immoderate
• unbearable
• unconscionable
• overdue
• towering
• inappropriate
• plethoric
• unmerciful
• devilish
• overextravagant
• overmuch
• overweening
• improper
• a bit much
• immeasurable
• unjustifiable
• limitless
• boundless
• unwarranted
• unseemly
• thick
• unrestrained

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reasonable
• moderate
• modest
• inadequate
• insufficient
• minimum
• temperate
• minimal
• middling
• deficient

steep

2 of 3

verb

1

as in to suffuse

to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle

grew up steeped in the ways of his ancestors

a town steeped in history

Synonyms & Similar Words

• suffuse
• flood
• charge
• invest
• infuse
• inoculate
• fill
• inculcate
• imbue
• overwhelm
• plant
• drown
• endue
• invigorate
• enliven
• animate
• leaven
• saturate
• ingrain
• submerge
• permeate
• pervade
• inundate
• instill
• implant
• impregnate
• deluge

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deprive
• take (away)
• clear
• strip
• eliminate
• remove
• empty
• divest

2

as in to soak

to wet thoroughly with liquid

chew fresh ginger that has been steeped in hot water to aid digestion

Synonyms & Similar Words

• soak
• drown
• saturate
• dip
• macerate
• wash
• sodden
• drench
• submerge
• immerse
• impregnate
• sop
• water
• penetrate
• swamp
• souse
• water-soak
• damp
• seethe
• waterlog
• inundate
• hydrate
• marinate
• infiltrate
• permeate
• bathe
• dampen
• moisten
• presoak
• douse
• swill
• humidify

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dry
• wring (out)
• drain
• empty
• dehydrate
• void
• sear
• desiccate
• parch
• dehumidify

steep

3 of 3

noun

as in cliff

Related Words

• cliff
• precipice
• bluff
• plateau
• crag
• ridge
• tor
• tableland
• mesa
• butte
• mountain
• peak
• mount
• sierra
• hill
• table
• dome
• highland
• prominence
• upland
• altitude
• elevation
• foothill
• knoll
• hillock
• alp
• sugarloaf
• rise
• hump
• eminence
• knob
• downs
• mound
• height
• hummock

Dissimilar Words

• valley
• lowland
• depression
• hollow
• vale
• dale
• glen
• basin
• flat
• bottom
• plain
• dell
• floodplain
• tidewater
• bottomland
• fen
• dingle

Synonym Chooser

How is the word steep different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of steep are abrupt, precipitous, and sheer. While all these words mean "having an incline approaching the perpendicular," steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult.

a steep hill

a steep dive

When would abrupt be a good substitute for steep?

In some situations, the words abrupt and steep are roughly equivalent. However, abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level.

a beach with an abrupt drop-off

When might precipitous be a better fit than steep?

While in some cases nearly identical to steep, precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical.

the river winds through a precipitous gorge

When is it sensible to use sheer instead of steep?

Although the words sheer and steep have much in common, sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse.

sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of steep

Adjective

Detroit’s financial woes led to steep cuts in basic city services like trash pickup and snow plowing. —Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025

Shark is taking their Black Friday sale seriously with steep savings throughout this list. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2025

Verb

Unlike other teas, which involve steeping leaves and removing them before drinking, matcha powder is then whisked into hot water. —Rebecca Corbett, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2025

For a unique spin on this refreshing golf cocktail, try steeping with other popular tea flavors like Peach, Lavender, or Earl Grey. —Emily Price, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025

Noun

Economists have warned that early layoffs like Williams’ could be the first signs of labor market fallout from Trump’s steep (and shifting) tariffs, which have ramped up uncertainty testing the nimbleness of businesses of all sizes. —Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 5 June 2025

However, the menu item doesn't actually come with that steep of a cost. —Catherine Santino, People.com, 1 June 2025