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wide

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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
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, meanwhile, has a wide range of buttons to press, and did so masterfully. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 1 May 2025 Pakistani officials have said India may be preparing for military action, saying that any Indian military action could trigger a wider conflict. Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Adverb
Point made a forehand move on Sergei Bobrovsky that opened up the left side of the net, but the Lightning’s top goal-scorer in the regular season missed wide with a backhand shot. Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2025 One to One opens wide in theaters starting April 18 and will stream on Max later this year. Gary Graff, Billboard, 17 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wide
Adjective
  • While the broader impact of the administration's funding pause remains unclear, the escalating battle has brought many of the university's key research projects, including studies on Alzheimer's disease and cancer treatment, to a halt.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
  • One proceeds in the traditional way, learning how to cook through years of experimentation, ascending from the mastery of individual recipes to a broader and more intuitive feel for how ingredients and techniques go together.
    Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Using the records, Ayyub showed that Shah and the three officers suspected of murdering Sheikh’s associate had been in extensive contact, before and after the killing.
    Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Teams may resist new workflows or technologies, requiring extensive training and communication efforts.
    Prashanthi Kolluru, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • When asked about it in his pre-match press conference, Silva, quite fairly, dismissed its relevance in strong terms.
    Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The hidden joke of their routines — what even a lot of the long-haired druggie types in the audience didn’t quite get — is that the counterculture was over.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • These Steve Madden platform sneakers feature thick, cushioned soles that provide extra height without sacrificing comfort.
    Jené Luciani Sena, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • While the large and new jumbo size are great for achieving those big supermodel waves on thick hair, the medium size is perfect for bangs and layered hair.
    Kleigh Balugo, StyleCaster, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Since returning to the Oval Office, Trump and his administration have cut thousands of jobs across the federal government, enacted sweeping tariffs that led to an escalating trade war with China and launched a deportation program that has triggered bitter court battles.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 2 May 2025
  • Tariffs are the story of this earnings season, as investors look for signs that President Donald Trump’s sweeping levies on imports are weighing on costs and consumer spending.
    Samantha Subin, CNBC, 1 May 2025
Adverb
  • The House caps growth in the Medicaid budget at the CPI for medical care, which grows much faster.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Khosrowshahi said the changes will help Uber move faster.
    Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The Orioles scored the first run of the game in the second inning when Ramón Laureano ripped an RBI double to deep center.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2025
  • This track leans on deep bass in the form of a bass synth.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 28 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • Robinson’s brand of middle-class psycho surrealism works perfectly in bite-size sketch-comedy doses.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 24 Apr. 2025
  • The popular style is all about big and chunky belts, so this set of three woven ones fits the bill perfectly.
    Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wide. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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