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Glite Dictionary
deep-set

deep-set

4 4.5
Eyes or parts of the face that are set far back and look sunken
  • adjective
  • /dipˈsɛt/
translation icon : hundido
  • The men had deep set eyes and thick dark beards.
  • deep-set eyes

And with deep set eyes, you have this huge lid space here.

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Examples

  • His eyes were small and deep-set, bright with the hot truth he spoke.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • His beard is close-cropped, his eyes deep-set and gray.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • And with deep set eyes, you have this huge lid space here.

    Wayne Goss

  • I'm more than my deep set eyes.

  • His eyes were deep-set and dark brown, full and knowing.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • His face was broad, too: a heavy jaw with wide, thin lips and small, deep-set eyes.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Dougal's deep-set eyes covered me slowly from head to foot and returned to my face.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • I looked at Tony, at the sharp line of his jaw, his brows bristling over his deep-set eyes.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Adah Harrimore regarded him with bright dark eyes, deep-set like her son's, and acutely intelligent.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • His eyes were small and deep-set, bright with the hot truth he spoke.

Synonyms

sunken
vsdeep-set
3 4.6

Lower than the area around it, often hollowed or pressed in

is similar in shape but the key stresses depth of facial features specifically
hollow-eyed
vsdeep-set
1 7.7

Deep sunken eyes that make a person look very tired or ill

describes mere depth of placement without implying health or emotion
recessed
vsdeep-set
1 5.2

Lower than the surface around it so it looks sunken

is used for facial features but focuses on physical placement not appearance
deep-eyed
vsdeep-set
7.5

Eyes that are set deep in the face and look sunken

is a neutral description of far back facial positioning not implying cause
sunken-eyed
vsdeep-set
7.2

Eyes that look deep and hollow because someone is sick or very tired

names the simple recessed position without suggesting cause like illness

Antonyms

prominent
353 3.9

Easy to see or remember because it stands out

protruding
4.2

Sticking out from a surface like a nail or branch

How Recessed

sunken
3 4.6
deep-set
4 4.5
normal
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

deep-set positive
deeper-set comparative
deepest-set superlative

Morphology

deep-set = deep + set (transparent) = deep + set

A straightforward compound 'deep' + 'set' meaning 'set deeply'; the parts and their contribution to meaning are clear to learners.

Etymology

Deep-set comes from the simple parts deep ('far down') and set ('placed'), so it literally means 'placed far down'. That's why deep-set eyes or features look like they sit back in the face and appear sunken.