Synonyms for

Abyss

Verb / ʌˈbɪs / Another word for abyss — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

a deep or seemingly bottomless chasm

Synonyms & similar words

aby abysm expiate atone abye chasm depth gulf hole void canyon crevasse fissure pit shaft well

Synonyms by register

Formal

chasm void gulf precipice

Informal

hole pit depths

Literary

netherworld inferno abysm

Antonyms

summit peak height zenith pinnacle crest

Common collocations

  • deep abyss
  • dark abyss
  • bottomless abyss
  • yawning abyss
  • abyss of despair
  • abyss of ignorance
  • stare into the abyss

Word family

noun abyss
adjective abyssal

Usage note

Often used metaphorically to describe a profound state of despair, ignorance, or a vast difference between two things. It implies a sense of overwhelming depth or emptiness.

Example sentences

  1. The hiker peered over the edge of the abyss and felt his stomach drop.
  2. The ocean was so deep it seemed like an abyss.
  3. She felt like she was falling into an abyss of despair.
  4. The canyon was like an abyss, with steep walls and a narrow floor.

Quotes

  • The only way to deal with fear is to face it head on, and that's what I did. I looked into the abyss, and it was dark and deep.
  • The abyss is time with its sadness, its weariness. The air my age is sad with memories.
  • The abyss is not in the ocean or the sky, it is in the mind.

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