1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
a profound silence fell over the audience after the last note had sounded
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in esoteric
difficult for one of ordinary knowledge or intelligence to understand
a profound observation about good and evil that few listeners fully grasped
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3
as in sheer
having no exceptions or restrictions
a profound dislike of frauds and phonies
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4
as in deep
extending far downward
with eyes wide with disbelief, the explorers made their way through a canyon more profound than any they had ever imagined
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of profound
Many people see that AI is a major technological shift and will have profound effects on our economy.
—
Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Christian mystics throughout the centuries—Smith writes, for instance, of the 16th century’s Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross, among many others—explored the ways in which retreating into solitude or letting the world slip amid silence had the potential to yield profound spiritual insights.
—Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
The memo laid out a different definition for profound autism than a 2022 article in The Lancet, in which profound autism was defined to include people who were minimally speaking and had an IQ below 50.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 28 Apr. 2026
Throughout this era of success, Burson was dealing with a profound series of medical issues that would come to shape her life and mind dramatically.
—Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for profound
Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
Christian mystics throughout the centuries—Smith writes, for instance, of the 16th century’s Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross, among many others—explored the ways in which retreating into solitude or letting the world slip amid silence had the potential to yield profound spiritual insights.
—Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
The memo laid out a different definition for profound autism than a 2022 article in The Lancet, in which profound autism was defined to include people who were minimally speaking and had an IQ below 50.
—O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 28 Apr. 2026
Throughout this era of success, Burson was dealing with a profound series of medical issues that would come to shape her life and mind dramatically.
—Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for profound
Recent Examples of Synonyms for profound
Adjective
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By the final showdown, the production has made use of every bit of stage space, with sensational flying sequences (choreographed by Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant) that allow the vampires to float, hover, and—in one especially intense moment—dive from that bridge.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
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The moment has sparked an outpouring of empathy, with many pointing to the intense pressure drivers face on the job.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As esoteric as its collection may seem, the bookstore itself makes exploration approachable.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
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Afshar has been returning to Iran’s southern islands of Hormuz and Qeshm since 2015, photographing the land, its residents and the invisible, esoteric forces that shape life there — the winds, which locals believe to be powerful entities.—
Adam Pourahmadi,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But the 6-foot-5 Dennis-Sutton’s potential and sheer agility are off the charts, at his size.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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The format has its limitations, though — the most obvious for fans with an inclination to ship is the sheer inability to develop romantic relationships over the course of a season.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But for many, the occasion carried a deeper meaning, one centered on those who dreamed of connecting Los Angeles to Chicago by road generations before them.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
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The songs were radiant, ecstatic, and cleansing, a deep exhale from a band freed from boardroom expectations.—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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Data centers also have sharp demand spikes driven by computing-intensive tasks, such as training models.—
Mark Chediak,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
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Tilson Thomas’ New World Symphony, an ensemble and intensive three-year fellowship program for music school graduates to hone their craft, and its home at the New World Center in Miami Beach, are considered to be crown jewels in the Miami area’s art scene.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The series poignantly addresses the complexities of teenage struggles, particularly through Justin’s undiagnosed ADHD and Keisha’s experience of trauma, emphasizing the importance of unconditional support and the intersection of mental health with race and class in today’s world.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
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The limited goal of bringing the regime to heel expanded immediately into its unconditional surrender and potential annihilation.—
Fintan O’Toole,
The New York Review of Books,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Along the way, there have been fast times, big doping busts and fierce corporate competition for the fastest humans in history.—
Sara Germano,
Sportico.com,
26 Apr. 2026
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Pre-marketing fight lands in court The fiercest pushback to Compass’s marketing strategy came from Zillow, the country’s largest home-search platform.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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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
Cite this Entry
“Profound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/profound. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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