1
as in unfathomable
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2
as in deep-sea
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Recent Examples of abyssal
To delve to the (geological) heart of the matter, scientists want to know the moon’s deepest secret—what’s happening at its most abyssal depths.
—
Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Apr. 2026
Advertisement The cliché of the grandmaster whose mind has been tied in knots contemplating the abyssal depths of a chess game is largely a fantasy; despite a few high-profile cases, no statistical link has been established between skill in chess and madness.
—Jordan Himelfarb, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
The heart of noir tends to be nihilism, its abyssal mood a veil that invites you to glimpse the darker machinery of a world ruled by insurmountable powers where resistance leads only to ruin.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
For its part, TMC intends to have large vessels out at sea deploying collector vehicles down to abyssal depths of 2.5-3.75 miles (4-6 km) in the Clarion Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean.
—New Atlas, 5 Apr. 2025
Seamounts are underwater mountains that rise hundreds or thousands of feet from the seafloor and can provide a vital habitat for marine life, while abyssal hills are smaller, underwater mounds.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Three years of computer modeling found the Antarctic overturning circulation – also known as abyssal ocean overturning – is on track to slow 42% by 2050 if the world continues to burn fossil fuels and produce high levels of planet-heating pollution.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 29 Mar. 2023
As an open-source project, C:DDA has its inner workings posted freely online, where anyone with a working knowledge of C++ can dive in and add weapons, recipes, and more information into the simulation's already abyssal depths.
—Eric Limer, Popular Mechanics, 17 Dec. 2018
Even here, though, abyssal tuba notes exposed a sonic substratum.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2017
Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 7 Apr. 2026
Advertisement The cliché of the grandmaster whose mind has been tied in knots contemplating the abyssal depths of a chess game is largely a fantasy; despite a few high-profile cases, no statistical link has been established between skill in chess and madness.
—Jordan Himelfarb, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
The heart of noir tends to be nihilism, its abyssal mood a veil that invites you to glimpse the darker machinery of a world ruled by insurmountable powers where resistance leads only to ruin.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
For its part, TMC intends to have large vessels out at sea deploying collector vehicles down to abyssal depths of 2.5-3.75 miles (4-6 km) in the Clarion Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean.
—New Atlas, 5 Apr. 2025
Seamounts are underwater mountains that rise hundreds or thousands of feet from the seafloor and can provide a vital habitat for marine life, while abyssal hills are smaller, underwater mounds.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Three years of computer modeling found the Antarctic overturning circulation – also known as abyssal ocean overturning – is on track to slow 42% by 2050 if the world continues to burn fossil fuels and produce high levels of planet-heating pollution.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 29 Mar. 2023
As an open-source project, C:DDA has its inner workings posted freely online, where anyone with a working knowledge of C++ can dive in and add weapons, recipes, and more information into the simulation's already abyssal depths.
—Eric Limer, Popular Mechanics, 17 Dec. 2018
Even here, though, abyssal tuba notes exposed a sonic substratum.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abyssal
Adjective
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In his work, the unfathomable is what most powerfully involves us—some private kernel of feeling that resists interpretation, and always remains out of reach.—
Sebastian Smee,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
-
There is no way to fill the unfillable void left by Ashly's passing and no way to make sense of this unfathomable loss.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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Still, proponents argue deep-sea mining may be less damaging than land mining, which contributes to massive habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, and toxic contamination of water sources.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
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Although no deep-sea mining is yet underway in these areas, at least two of the vents that the snails live on have been considered for possible operations, according to the IUCN.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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But is there not still reason to study how Americans, from within their infinite chorus of difference and pluralism, have understood their nation as a whole?—
David W. Blight,
The New York Review of Books,
23 May 2026
-
But in a world of infinite content, attention alone is no longer enough.—
Felicity Fellows,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
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Brazil, the region’s largest oil and gas producer, is now a global leader in deepwater and ultra-deepwater production and aims to rank among the world’s top five crude producers by 2030, driven by prolific fields such as Búzios.—
Juan Pablo Spinetto,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
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Along Iran’s coastline, deepwater ports are hard to come by, making Kharg Island vastly important.—
Callum Sutherland,
Time,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Thus whoever wins Chicago’s mayoral election next year almost certainly will be dealing with Pritzker as governor for the vast majority of their term.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
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Built from the bones of a 12th-century hostelry, its hub is a vast, glamorous lounge bar complete with mixologists shaking modern-day mocktails under the ancient beams.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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By filtering fine organic particles from the water and stabilizing sediments, sea pansies participate in benthic nutrient cycling — the process by which nutrients are exchanged between the water column and the ocean floor.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2026
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Recognizable by their strong pharyngeal teeth used to crush mollusc shells, black carps can significantly impact local ecosystems by feeding on mussels and snails, and competing with other native benthic fishes like smallmouth buffalo.—
Cheyenne Derksen,
Oklahoman,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Sargassum includes pelagic species of brown seaweed that have their origin offshore in the Atlantic Ocean and float on its surface, according to the FWC.—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
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And although most marine mammals are coastal, some pelagic whales and dolphins dwell far offshore.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The department also said drones were used to monitor the situation and that marine units assisted along the shoreline and offshore.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
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Mark Hay, a Georgia Tech marine ecologist and member of the National Academy of Sciences who signed both letters, told me the breadth of support is itself the news.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abyssal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abyssal. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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