1
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in cliff
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Catherine Santino, People.com, 1 June 2025
Also: five pencils are enough The Trump administration is working to secure trade deals with more than 170 nations after Trump in April steep imposed universal tariffs on much of the world.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 7 May 2025
Rodney Carmichael, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
More than 100 brands currently compete with one another, leading to steep discounts and price wars.
—Rebecca A. Fannin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Emily Price, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
It is then allowed to steep off the heat for about two hours, strained, chilled, and mixed with more water prior to serving.
—Christina Manian, Health, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for steep
Adjective
However, the menu item doesn't actually come with that steep of a cost.
—Catherine Santino, People.com, 1 June 2025
Also: five pencils are enough The Trump administration is working to secure trade deals with more than 170 nations after Trump in April steep imposed universal tariffs on much of the world.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 7 May 2025
Verb
The year after celebrating hip-hop's golden anniversary in 2023, the show's annual viewership fell off a steep cliff - down nearly 50% in 2024.
—Rodney Carmichael, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
More than 100 brands currently compete with one another, leading to steep discounts and price wars.
—Rebecca A. Fannin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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
It is then allowed to steep off the heat for about two hours, strained, chilled, and mixed with more water prior to serving.
—Christina Manian, Health, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for steep
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steep
Adjective
-
Riding from Charlotte and traversing through the mountainous terrain of the western part of North Carolina, the gravity of it all wasn’t lost on Grant Williams.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Ragasa brought finance hub Hong Kong and swathes of southern China to a standstill on Wednesday, after barreling through remote islands in the Philippines and mountainous regions of Taiwan.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The reports obtained by The Post show a barrage of complaints from youth that staff used excessive force during restraints or other physical management responses at the state’s 14 facilities.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
-
With extended heat exposure comes excessive sweat, so drinking plenty of fluids with electrolytes the day before is essential for safe sauna use.—
Essence,
Essence,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The film certainly steers clear of Emmerichian overdrive, but it is suffused with hopelessness — on both an intimate and an epic scale.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
-
But the hot gas that suffused the space between the galaxies in each cluster would have crashed head-on.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Bahamas are still enduring Imelda’s winds and heavy rain after being soaked over the weekend, even as the storm started to move away Monday afternoon.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Then let the berries soak for 5-10 minutes.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Mickey piloted the boat to the cliffs, dropped anchor, and the four of them swam to shore.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Dramatic limestone cliffs ensure picture-perfect views at every turn, and, even in the height of summer, sweeping beaches ensure there's room for everyone on the sand.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Provided the Niners don’t blow the doors off their Golden State rival, the Football Factory churns out the vertical yardage needed.—
Brad Evans,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The Live hub in the main vertical navigation takes viewers to the latest live news, sports and events, as well as the 24/7 Streams on Disney+.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
During the third quarter, Fever star Kelsey Mitchell left the court due to extreme cramping in her lower body.—
Frank Nunns O'Connell,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
-
But the plan roundly ignores the contributions of climate change to the state's extreme heat problem.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The president responded by calling a special session and flooding the assembly with armed troops.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Reaction to the Grand Blanc Township violence Statements of support, shock and encouragement quickly flooded social media.—
Frank Witsil,
Freep.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Steep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steep. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share