plumb the depths of
idiom
1
literary
: to examine (something) in a careful and complete way in order to understand it
The play plumbs the depths of human nature.
2
: to experience a lot of (something)
someone who has plumbed the depths of loss/pain
Examples of plumb the depths of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The reasons to attempt to plumb the depths of your trauma at a resort—rather than in an office or over Zoom—are manifold, therapists said.
—
Melinda Fulmer, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2024
Ocean engineer Kevin Hardy’s creations plumb the depths of the Mariana Trench
Eliza Strickland
31 Jan 2012
4 min read
Photo: Roxie J. Cirino
With the boat surging over ocean swells, a soaked and smudged Kevin Hardy reaches over the side and yanks a tether, freeing a 3-meter-long submersible.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Jan. 2012
This fall brought devoted fans a second season aboard the Revenge, and gave creator-executive producer David Jenkins and his writers the chance to plumb the depths of his characters further, and lean into each actor’s strengths.
—Lisa Rosen, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Once upon a time, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to plumb the depths of the ocean and scale the heights of space with Vladimir Putin.
—Megha Mandavia, WSJ, 2 Mar. 2022
BoJack Horseman, the phenomenal final season of which aired on Netflix at the beginning of this year, challenged its audience to plumb the depths of a wrongdoer’s psyche.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 22 Dec. 2020
Five days a week from an office on the Upper West Side, Mr. Zechory helps his 20 or so patients — some of them supine, in the classic style — plumb the depths of their unconscious minds.
—Joseph Bernstein, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2023
Terrifying monsters and ancient dragons plumb the depths of deep caverns and poisonous lakes.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023
The Pulitzer Prize-winner has an astonishing ability to plumb the depths of his subjects—crafting a raw, nuanced portrait of a person in the process.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2023
Melinda Fulmer, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2024
Ocean engineer Kevin Hardy’s creations plumb the depths of the Mariana Trench
Eliza Strickland
31 Jan 2012
4 min read
Photo: Roxie J. Cirino
With the boat surging over ocean swells, a soaked and smudged Kevin Hardy reaches over the side and yanks a tether, freeing a 3-meter-long submersible.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Jan. 2012
This fall brought devoted fans a second season aboard the Revenge, and gave creator-executive producer David Jenkins and his writers the chance to plumb the depths of his characters further, and lean into each actor’s strengths.
—Lisa Rosen, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Once upon a time, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to plumb the depths of the ocean and scale the heights of space with Vladimir Putin.
—Megha Mandavia, WSJ, 2 Mar. 2022
BoJack Horseman, the phenomenal final season of which aired on Netflix at the beginning of this year, challenged its audience to plumb the depths of a wrongdoer’s psyche.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 22 Dec. 2020
Five days a week from an office on the Upper West Side, Mr. Zechory helps his 20 or so patients — some of them supine, in the classic style — plumb the depths of their unconscious minds.
—Joseph Bernstein, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2023
Terrifying monsters and ancient dragons plumb the depths of deep caverns and poisonous lakes.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023
The Pulitzer Prize-winner has an astonishing ability to plumb the depths of his subjects—crafting a raw, nuanced portrait of a person in the process.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'plumb the depths of.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Plumb the depths of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plumb%20the%20depths%20of. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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