1
as in unfathomable
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as in deep-sea
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Recent Examples of abyssal
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
Before New Horizons flew by, scientists thought there wouldn’t be much in the way of geological activity happening out there on the fringe, where temperatures are decidedly abyssal and materials tend to freeze in place.
—National Geographic, 14 July 2016
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
Before New Horizons flew by, scientists thought there wouldn’t be much in the way of geological activity happening out there on the fringe, where temperatures are decidedly abyssal and materials tend to freeze in place.
—National Geographic, 14 July 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abyssal
Adjective
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These same children, who are mostly between the ages of eleven and eighteen, saw the President’s bleeding ear and dozens, maybe even hundreds, of images of unfathomable trauma in Gaza.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
17 Sep. 2025
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Not very long ago, the notion that San Diego County would have no Republican representation in Congress seemed unfathomable.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This deep-sea predator, characterized by its large eyes and tiny teeth, was found during bycatch surveys with shrimp trawlers.—
Real-Time News team,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
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Activities such as global shipping, seismic airgun surveys for oil and gas, offshore construction and drilling, and the emerging threat of deep-sea mining now flood the seas with constant, disruptive sound.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Human beings have an infinite capacity for taking things for granted.—
Devorah Lev-Tov,
AFAR Media,
15 Sep. 2025
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Amid endless notifications, infinite scroll, and continuous partial attention, this skill is more critical than ever.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Those offshore turbines are dramatically larger than ones on land and require substantial infrastructure at ports for construction, from large assembly facilities to deepwater docks for ships that carry turbines out to sea.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
31 Aug. 2025
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By this year, deepwater oil will account for 10% of global crude supply, according to Rystad Energy.—
Ian Dexter Palmer,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Harried enjoyed a colorful green and purple display with vast pillars reaching high into the sky, as well as a subtle green glow as activity began to wane.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Meeting rising demand requires vast data centers, each dependent on electricity, cooling water, and fiber connectivity.—
Maurice Obeid,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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According to the study authors, these changes can be tied to stagnation and decline in the ocean’s biodiversity, particularly among benthic animals, or animals associated with the bottom of the sea, such as corals, crustaceans, and brachiopods.—
Sam Walters,
Discover Magazine,
24 June 2025
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The scientists noticed a drop in their prey, such as small pelagic fishes in the case of seals and smaller benthic sharks in the case of sevengill sharks.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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For the advanced, channels around the islands work like pelagic highways, attracting more than 3,000 different marine species.—
Terry Ward,
AFAR Media,
11 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, offshore, the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge pulses with life: think harbor seals, black oystercatchers, and pelagic cormorants.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The weekend consists of marine science talks mixed with social events with fellow snorkelers, divers, and ocean conservationists.—
Kelsey Glennon,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
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But even as new tools and strategies emerge to quiet the seas, the legal foundation that has long safeguarded marine life is under pressure.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abyssal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abyssal. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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