Meaning & use

abyss

noun·Advanced

A very deep or seemingly bottomless chasm, or an extreme and overwhelming situation.

See it in a sentence

The explorers peered nervously into the dark abyss beneath the cave floor.

After losing his job and his home, he felt he was staring into an abyss.

A note on using this word

Abyss is often used figuratively for emotional despair or crisis, not only for a literal physical depth.

Words with a similar meaning

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