🌊 Deep ocean 🕳️ Extremely deep

abyssal

1 9.8

Very deep and hard to understand or imagine

adjective
/əˈbɪsəl/

: abismal

Once in the faint light of the stars, I thought we must be crossing a natural bridge with abyssal drop-offs on either side.

E for the abyssal eons scribbled in the road cuts the Anthropocene's antecedents abridged.

Examples

The seamount, which rose to within 60 feet of the surface, was only about 200 yards in diameter, and it fell away into abyssal darkness on every side.

Academic text (2009)
Like abyssal diving suits, they were constructed of rigid components, since it was necessary for the occupant to be protected within a shell that could be maintained at standard pressure.

Fiction book (1999)
The scientist explored the abyssal depths of the ocean, discovering new species that thrive in complete darkness.
Many creatures in the abyssal zone have unique adaptations to survive the extreme pressure and lack of light.
The ship descended into the abyssal trench, revealing a world few had ever seen before.

Synonyms

deep

vsabyssal

∞ 1.0

Far down from the surface or top

adds the sense of abyss resemblance and extreme, often immeasurable depth

unfathomable

vsabyssal

23 8.6

Very hard to understand or measure how deep something is

focuses on physical abyss resemblance rather than only being incomprehensible

deep-sea

vsabyssal

13 4.5

Located very far below the sea surface

is broader, applying to abyss likeness beyond only ocean contexts

bottomless

vsabyssal

12 5.0

So deep that you cannot see or reach the lowest part

stresses abyss likeness rather than only lacking a bottom

deep-water

vsabyssal

4 4.9

In very deep parts of the sea

covers resemblance to an abyss rather than just sea depth features

fathomless

vsabyssal

2 8.6

So deep that you cannot measure or understand it

relates to or suggests an abyss rather than only being unmeasurable

abysmal

vsabyssal

1 6.8

Very deep like a dark hole with no bottom

uses the same abyss idea but as a descriptive quality of depth

bone-deep

vsabyssal

1 7.0

A very strong feeling that reaches deep into your body or heart

focuses on literal abyss likeness and depth rather than emotional intensity

depthless

vsabyssal

1 7.2

So far down that it seems to have no bottom, like an ocean or someone's eyes

emphasizes resemblance to an abyss especially in vertical extent

Antonyms

shallow

155 1.6

Not deep from the surface down

Compounds

abyssal zone

Specialized

9.9

A very deep part of the ocean below 2,000 meters with no light, very cold water, and high pressure

How Deep

abyssal

1 9.8

profound

123 6.3

deep

332 1.0

shallow

155 1.6

Surface Forms

abyssal positive

Morphology

abyssal = abyss (transparent) = abyss + al

The adjective is built directly from the noun 'abyss' with the suffix '-al', meaning 'relating to an abyss' or 'having abyss-like depth'.

Etymology

The word abyssal comes from the Greek abyssos meaning 'bottomless', like an abyss or 'bottomless pit', so we use abyssal for things that feel endlessly deep or hard to understand, such as great loneliness.