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

Any team paying a steep acquisition cost for Skubal will want to do a complete review of his history. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 The stigma of unemployment is compounded by the guilt of knowing that your parents had to drain their savings or mortgage their land to pay for the steep fees demanded by colleges and coaching centers. — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026

Verb

Allow to steep chilled for 12 hours or overnight. — Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 In our research, participants’ stories were steeped with nostalgia for the days of company picnics, Oscar-style end-of-quarter celebrations, and disco-at-the-office parties. — Alanah Mitchell, The Conversation, 2 June 2026

Noun

The timer can also be removed if a short steep of 30 seconds is required for white or green teas to reduce bitterness. — New Atlas, 25 Nov. 2025 Increasing the time tea steeps increases the amount of caffeine and other components like theanine. — Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for steep

Recent Examples of Synonyms for steep

Adjective

The men’s Tour was disrupted by wildfires last month, resulting in the route of both the third stage and the final stage being amended and cut short and fans being asked to stay away from the mountainous finish on stage 3.

— Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
This is what happened in the Big Thompson back in 1976, when slow-moving thunderstorms dumped copious amounts of rain over mountainous terrain.

— Dave Aguilera, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Definition of mountainous

Adjective

However, Leo’s shadow can show up as a mix of defensiveness, entitlement or an excessive attachment to validation.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026
That said, a recent Europe-wide survey by EU-OSHA reveals that concerns about excessive heat are becoming increasingly universal, with one in five workers reporting unhealthy exposure to extreme temperatures and around one in eight to intense sun.

— Oliver Balch, Fortune, 27 July 2026

Definition of excessive

Verb

The threat is still there, suffused into the air like a memory, but for a time the choice between love and survival no longer feels mutually exclusive to Nino and Yasmina.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 July 2026
Good binoculars will reveal a score of stars in this little group, while long-exposure observatory photographs show about 1000 in the area — all suffused in great clouds and streamers of nebulous light.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of suffuse

Verb

The single-sink bathroom vanity had just enough room for two, but the massive walk-in shower featured a soaking tub.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
After two straight early morning practices soaked by rain, the Buffalo Bills finally got through a training camp session in the sunshine.

— Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of soak

Noun

But Jesus eventually heals the man and casts the demons into a herd of pigs, which tumble over a cliff and drown.

— John Blake, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Besides one stunt where Newton’s character had to hop off a 35-foot cliff into a shallow pool of water, all the actors were game to do their own stunts — safely, of course.

— Matt Minton, Variety, 31 July 2026

Definition of cliff

Adjective

The homeowner was concerned about cracks that had appeared in some 10-foot tall 6×6 vertical wood deck posts.

— Tim Carter, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026
This is accompanied by vertical matrix taillights with 708 red LED particles and headlights with 228 LED beads per group.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of vertical

Adjective

The Old Trails Fire – fueled by extreme fire weather conditions – has burned nearly 3,000 acres, Washington State Forester George Geissler said at a news conference Saturday, adding about 4,000 buildings are threatened in the area.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2026
In Montana, the entire east side of the state was under an extreme heat warning Saturday, said weather service meteorologist Jeff Kitsmiller.

— Tammy Webber, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of extreme

Verb

In one image, a young sitter with the Arabic word for ‘justice’ painted on her cheek gazes sensuously into the camera, while flooding the frame with wafts of smoke.

— Michael-Oliver Harding, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
As the midterm elections kick into gear after Labor Day, Americans’ social feeds will be flooded with political videos.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 27 July 2026

Definition of flood

Browse Nearby Words

steely

steep

steeped

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Steep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steep. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of steep

adjective

verb

noun

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