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
• intolerable
• fancy
• over the top
• baroque
• immoderate
• stiff
• unconscionable
• unbearable
• overdue
• towering
• plethoric
• unmerciful
• devilish
• inappropriate
• 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
• indue
• overwhelm
• plant
• drown
• engrain
• endue
• invigorate
• enliven
• animate
• ingrain
• leaven
• saturate
• submerge
• permeate
• pervade
• deluge
• inundate
• implant
• instill
• impregnate

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
• humidify
• douse
• swill
• dowse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

steep

3 of 3

noun

as in cliff

Synonyms & Similar 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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• 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

The fire is largely set in a remote location, with crews being taken by helicopter to fight the fire in rocky, steep terrain. —Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2025

Several Midwest cities experienced significant declines in safe driving since 2015: St. Louis had the steepest drop, falling 90 spots to Number 175. —Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 19 June 2025

Verb

The longer the steeping time, the more contaminants were adsorbed. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 27 Feb. 2025

Available for a limited time, Bojangles’ new Watermelon Sweet Tea blends the chain’s legendary iced tea—steeped the old-fashioned way, of course—with real watermelon juice to create a refreshing drink perfect for cooling down on hot summer days. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 16 May 2025

Noun

Mountain bikers love Nelson for its distinct type of trails, nostalgically referred to as classic BC-style (Read: highly technical singletrack with long vertical descents full of airs, bridges, steeps, roots, and rock slabs). —Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 4 Oct. 2024

What to drink: The plum blossom herbal tea ($8) is served on a beautiful wood tray and comes with multiple steeps. —Megan Stringer, Axios, 8 Jan. 2025