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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
Company spokesperson Cherie Jacobs said the company supports a wide variety of organizations that share its philanthropic priorities. Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2025 Although, like so many Biblical narratives, the Gospel of Mary was excluded from the canon, scholars contend that the text was in wide circulation among Jesus’ early followers. Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2025
Adverb
Four passes later, Anthony Edwards found Alexander-Walker wide open and Westbrook jumped into the path, his right arm and hip brushing up against him for the whistle. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 2 Apr. 2025 While the National League features multiple elite teams, the American League feels more wide open than ever. Eric Samulski, NBC news, 26 Mar. 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
  • The film's broad cultural influence extends beyond the entertainment industry.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 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
  • His extensive pitch repertoire and his stuff haven’t been an issue.
    David O'Brien, New York Times, 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
  • The first is the pomodoro, a thick, fluffy pan-pizza smeared with sugo di pomodoro, a rich red sauce with a deep tomato flavor that tastes like it’s been reducing for hours.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Doing an entire load of dishes, sweeping and cleaning floors, and wiping down cabinets, countertops, and tables are all tasks that involve a lot of time, much more than one minute.
    Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The 32% tariffs on Taiwan included in Trump's sweeping new tariffs on trade partners this month surprised many Taiwanese, who thought that their government had shown itself a true ally to Washington.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Apr. 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
  • Meanwhile, Lucas Walsh, a youth political behavior expert, said that cost-of-living pressures and a deep distrust in both major parties are fueling Gen Z's volatility.
    Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • Crisp skin gives way to a perfectly rosy center, and the dish finds its soulmate in Chateau Elan’s reserve Merlot—a round and juicy red with just enough tannin to balance the duck’s richness.
    Rai Mincey, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Bone collectors will even chew a piece down to fit perfectly amid the other remains.
    Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 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 2 May. 2025.

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