STEEP Synonyms: 207 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

steep 1 of 3

adjective

ˈstēp

Definition of steep

as in mountainous

having an incline approaching the perpendicular a very steep rock face that is nearly impossible to climb

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

steep

2 of 3

verb

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

steep

3 of 3

noun

as in cliff

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of steep

Adjective

This rainfall may produce flash flooding and mudslides, especially in areas of steep terrain. — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026 Saturday’s stage 14 ends with the 12km ascent of Sierra de la Pandera, whose steepest sections, topping out at 17 per cent, are difficult enough to forge more gaps in GC. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Verb

Meanwhile, steeping the banana peels in milk gives the topping an extra layer of banana flavor without adding extra fruit or moisture. — Joe Sevier, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026 In 15,000 square feet over two stories, the emporium will introduce diners to culinary highlights from throughout Asia, much like how its mall neighbor, Eataly, has steeped diners in the regional specialties of Italy. — Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 23 June 2026

Noun

Plus, the compliance infrastructure required makes the cost of entry steep. — Sulolit Raj Mukherjee, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2026 Lusti and Pierrel must be hyper-fixated on precision, because every single body movement on a rock face that steep comes with consequences. — Frederick Dreier, Outside, 12 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for steep

Recent Examples of Synonyms for steep

Adjective

The rain could trigger flash flooding and mudslides, particularly in mountainous areas.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Those conditions, as well as heavy rains and mountainous terrain, made access even by air difficult at times.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of mountainous

Adjective

The deputy ultimately pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights violation for excessive force.

— Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
The experimentation with outdoor games is probably a thing of the past after Nebraska’s match against Missouri at Wrigley Field was delayed twice and finally suspended after just 18 points because of excessive moisture on the court.

— Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of excessive

Verb

The threat of shattered glass if the bottle breaks, the subsequent odor suffusing all the items in your carryon, liquids seeping dangerously close to electronics—none of it sounds like a good idea.

— Chloe Schama, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
But Pete took the idea one step further, taking the organization’s iconic symbol — the star — and suffusing it with a deeper meaning.

— Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of suffuse

Verb

The primary suite has dual walk-in closets, a soaking tub surrounded by 10-foot tumbled travertine stone walls, a steam shower, dry sauna and private fitness area.

— David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Bathrooms are equipped with rain showers, motion-sensing Toto toilets, and soaking tubs.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of soak

Noun

Yet further down in Dana Point is where the crowds thin out and the gorgeous coastline of rocky cliffs, endless beaches, and bright blue ocean waves come into focus.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
Single-Node Contention Under Concurrent Agent Queries A distributed, scale-out architecture spreads those concurrent operations across many nodes, so adding agents means adding capacity rather than going off a cliff.

— Gopi Duddi, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of cliff

Adjective

In the last big vertical ladder section, Hector and I reached peak levels of awareness of our surroundings.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026
The company conducted the flights using its Chaparral hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft in Louisiana.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of vertical

Adjective

Overdosing on the drug can cause extreme drowsiness, confusion, impaired coordination, decreased reflexes, respiratory depression, coma and possible death.

— Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
In the Rocky Mountains, years of extreme heat and drought have baked the landscape, drying up streams that feed the Colorado River and desiccating pastures where cattle graze.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of extreme

Verb

Morgan Creek and Cove Creek will be particularly subject to flooding this morning.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2026
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) estimates that 300,000 to 500,000 people died, most from the surge flooding coastal islands and tidal flats.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of flood

Browse Nearby Words

steely

steep

steeped

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Steep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steep. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of steep

adjective

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

shofar

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes