plumb 1 of 3

Definition of plumbnext

plumb

2 of 3

adverb

1
as in straight
in a direct line or course I can't believe he walked plumb into the tree, without even seeing it!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

plumb

3 of 3

verb

as in to scale
to measure the depth of (as a body of water) typically with a weighted line plumbed the bay to make sure it was deep enough for the ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective plumb differ from other similar words?

The words perpendicular and vertical are common synonyms of plumb. While all three words mean "being at right angles to a base line," plumb stresses an exact verticality determined (as with a plumb line) by earth's gravity.

make sure that the wall is plumb

When might perpendicular be a better fit than plumb?

Although the words perpendicular and plumb have much in common, perpendicular may stress the straightness of a line making a right angle with any other line, not necessarily a horizontal one.

the parallel bars are perpendicular to the support posts

In what contexts can vertical take the place of plumb?

In some situations, the words vertical and plumb are roughly equivalent. However, vertical suggests a line or direction rising straight upward toward a zenith.

the side of the cliff is almost vertical

How does the adjective plumb differ from other similar words?

The words perpendicular and vertical are common synonyms of plumb. While all three words mean "being at right angles to a base line," plumb stresses an exact verticality determined (as with a plumb line) by earth's gravity.

make sure that the wall is plumb

When might perpendicular be a better fit than plumb?

Although the words perpendicular and plumb have much in common, perpendicular may stress the straightness of a line making a right angle with any other line, not necessarily a horizontal one.

the parallel bars are perpendicular to the support posts

In what contexts can vertical take the place of plumb?

In some situations, the words vertical and plumb are roughly equivalent. However, vertical suggests a line or direction rising straight upward toward a zenith.

the side of the cliff is almost vertical

How does the adjective plumb differ from other similar words?

The words perpendicular and vertical are common synonyms of plumb. While all three words mean "being at right angles to a base line," plumb stresses an exact verticality determined (as with a plumb line) by earth's gravity.

make sure that the wall is plumb

When might perpendicular be a better fit than plumb?

Although the words perpendicular and plumb have much in common, perpendicular may stress the straightness of a line making a right angle with any other line, not necessarily a horizontal one.

the parallel bars are perpendicular to the support posts

In what contexts can vertical take the place of plumb?

In some situations, the words vertical and plumb are roughly equivalent. However, vertical suggests a line or direction rising straight upward toward a zenith.

the side of the cliff is almost vertical

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of plumb
Adjective
An actor’s job is to plumb emotions at a moment’s notice. Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2025 On Tuesday morning, the parking lot and the gravel road near the Oglala Commodity Warehouse in Pine Ridge was plumb-full of pick-up trucks and cars. Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
Some countries pump out aircraft carriers to project power across the globe; others build research megastructures to plumb the ocean depths. Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 2 Apr. 2026 Maurizio Cattelan, who also wielded a banana with profound memetic effectiveness, is one of the few other artists whose work has this kind of stickiness, but his recent sculptures have leaned more on the public’s appetite for stunts, whereas Rødland plumbs more mysterious depths. Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plumb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plumb
Adjective
  • Gil also totaled four complete innings, five hits, three walks, zero strikeouts and a pair of two-run homers, courtesy of Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes, in his fourth start of the season.
    Gary Phillips, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
  • With savings up to 86 percent on complete sets and lots of cooling options for warm nights, there are some major bedding deals lurking on the site.
    Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Given Tate’s vertical pacing and tracking skills, Ward can let the ball fly with confidence.
    Dane Brugler, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • On this feminine top, cap sleeves pair with vertical stripes to help elongate your torso.
    Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • Or damn near the entire overtime period, as Oettinger fended off shot after shot, the 11th one finally getting past as Matt Boldy won a puck battle in the corner, went straight to the top of the blue paint, and deflected in a Jared Spurgeon shot for the game-winner.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Messi trudged off the field quickly and headed straight to the locker room, in no mood for post-game salutations.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • The Barracuda, the Sharks’ AHL affiliate, allowed two goals in the first period and never fully recovered in a 5-1 loss to the Henderson Silver Knights on Friday, as San Jose was swept in the best-of-three first-round series two games to none at Lee’s Family Forum.
    Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Amodei cited the concern that Anthropic technology would be used for fully autonomous lethal weapons whose decisions were made without human involvement — and the potential for AI to be used for mass domestic surveillance on an unprecedented scale.
    U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • The hit was outsourced to a hulking Estonian assassin, Imre (the Butcher) Arakas, who arrived at Dublin Airport on April 3, 2017, and was immediately tailed by officers from the An Garda Síochána’s Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, who arrested him the next day.
    Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Employees were immediately forced to pay about 40% of the cost of their monthly premiums.
    Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • An entrepreneur can launch and scale with far less infrastructure.
    Bruce Broussard, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Additionally, as the industry continues to scale, another concern begins to take shape, centered on the nature of the connection between patient and provider.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Everyone was right to describe the cans produced by Piero Manzoni, and dubbed Merda d’Artista, as utter crap.
    Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 28 Apr. 2026
  • These are songs of utter persistence, of utter utterness.
    New York Times, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Both species are annuals that have long, slender leaves and hollow, erect stems.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Lily stood erect and silent, waiting for her part in the hunt.
    Delbert L. Chears, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Plumb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plumb. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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