wide 1 of 2

Definition of widenext

wide

2 of 2

adverb

Synonym Chooser

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

The words broad and deep are common synonyms of wide. While all three words mean "having horizontal extent," wide is more common when units of measurement are mentioned, or when applied to unfilled space between limits.

rugs eight feet wide
a wide doorway

In what contexts can broad take the place of wide?

Although the words broad and wide have much in common, broad is preferred when full horizontal extent is considered.

broad shoulders

When is deep a more appropriate choice than wide?

In some situations, the words deep and wide are roughly equivalent. However, deep may indicate horizontal extent away from the observer or from a front or peripheral point.

a deep cupboard
deep woods

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 wide
Adjective
While the chicken cooks, set up a wide array of salsas and toppings for a fun build-your-own weeknight meal. Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 18 June 2026 Old Whisky For Young Consumers Despite a wide range of whiskies in its portfolio, with several age statements as low as 12 years, The Macallan deliberately chose much older whisky for a campaign focused on time, legacy and patience. Chris Perugini, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Adverb
The Samba Jane is part of the ultra-low profile trend that M Science has been tracking industry-wide. Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 18 June 2026 Martinsville, Illinois, population 1,118, two square miles wide, an hour and 40 minutes from Decatur, located in the southeast corner of the state, is nowhere at all. Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wide
Adjective
  • Jackson will now look to reunite a Republican Party left battered by the most expensive and divisive gubernatorial primary in Georgia history, while also trying to convince a broader electorate that a healthcare executive with no political experience is prepared to lead Georgia.
    Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 17 June 2026
  • The investigation has also prompted broader questions about the bridge itself and how the site was being used.
    Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • Iran also committed to open its facilities to extensive international inspections in exchange for the sanctions relief and unfreezing of its foreign assets.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 19 June 2026
  • Every gas article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products.
    Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 19 June 2026
Adverb
  • Looking to be quite aggressive in a football sense and always looking for the solution and what can happen instead of worrying about what the problem is.
    Andy Mitten, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • Nothing stings quite like being steps from getting your credit card out to make a glorious purchase, and finding that your promo code isn’t working.
    Hannah Chubb, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • The fire initially grew into a huge inferno, creating a pillar of thick, black smoke that could be seen for miles.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • That thick, ugly vein, the shrimp feeling, was gone.
    Sarah Miller, New Yorker, 20 June 2026
Adjective
  • Cuba’s Communist Party has approved 176 free‑market measures, which are described as the most sweeping economic overhaul since the revolution, dismantling pillars of state control and decentralizing a system battered by crisis.
    Andrea Rodríguez, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • South Florida Republican Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar is expressing skepticism over the Cuban government's announcement of sweeping economic reforms that would open key sectors of the island's economy to private and foreign investment.
    Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 20 June 2026
Adverb
  • To make matters worse, microbiome testing has gotten cheaper and faster, but not more accurate.
    Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 June 2026
  • But this case shows that assumption can fall apart fast.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • The contrast between bright snowfields and deep shadows has always pushed displays to their limits, but on the G6, viewers can finally see the deep, rich blacks that the filmmakers originally intended.
    Nam Sunwoo, Variety, 19 June 2026
  • The judge additionally said that Sarsour's deep ties to the community and his health concerns were also considered in ruling in favor of his release.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
Adverb
  • The passage is incoherent, yet, in conflating progressive reform with arrogant blind faith, it is perfectly suited to Vance’s cynical conservatism.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 19 June 2026
  • The robust selection feels bespoke and unexpected, catering perfectly to anyone on the hunt for something truly unique.
    Alyssa Longobucco, Architectural Digest, 19 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wide. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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