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Definition of abyss

abyss

/əˈbɪs/
a · byss
Plural:abysses
•
Adjective:abyssal
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abyss Lexical Profile

abyss Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A deep, immeasurable, or seemingly bottomless chasm, gorge, or oceanic trench.

Example

"The remotely operated submersible descended into the dark abyss of the Mariana Trench to record deep-sea marine life."

2

An overwhelming or seemingly inescapable state of despair, ruin, or moral degradation; a profound, unbridgeable division between people or ideas.

Example

"Years of reckless borrowing pushed the corporation to the edge of a financial abyss."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for abyss

• Nearby Words

abuzz
abysmal
abysmally
abyss
abyssal
abyssinian
acacia

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late Middle Ages from Late Latin 'abyssus', which came from the Ancient Greek 'abyssos' (meaning 'bottomless'), formed from the privative prefix 'a-' ('without') and 'byssos' ('bottom' or 'depth').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Abyss. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/abyss
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