1
as in bay
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline
we dipped our feet in the warm waters of the gulf
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2
as in abyss
an immeasurable depth or space
the gulf of understanding between the two men was too wide for them to ever get along
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3
as in canyon
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage
the gulf was too wide to cross, so we had to hike down into it and go through it
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4
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)
a wide gulf in the defensive wall meant the city was in grave danger
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5
as in vortex
water moving rapidly in a circle with a hollow in the center
the doomed ship was sucked into the gulf and consigned to Davy Jones's locker
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as in to flood
to cover with a flood
with the administration gulfed by so many real problems, it's absurd for the president to concern himself with this nonissue
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gulf
Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 31 Jan. 2025
But then, lo and behold, a cold front swept through the gulf formerly known as Mexico and this state lost its collective mind.
—Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2025
Ferris Jabr, Smithsonian, 8 Jan. 2018
See All Example Sentences for gulf
Noun
More Hunting Opportunity on Federal Land While the full-speed ahead philosophy on resource extraction doesn’t signal a willingness to compromise, another section of President Trump’s mandate actually focuses on resolving a growing gulf between Alaska’s state and federal land managers.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 31 Jan. 2025
But then, lo and behold, a cold front swept through the gulf formerly known as Mexico and this state lost its collective mind.
—Scott Maxwell, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
So many gulfs separate us now: geographical, anatomical, psychological.
—Ferris Jabr, Smithsonian, 8 Jan. 2018
See All Example Sentences for gulf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gulf
Noun
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The resort offers complimentary kayaks and paddleboards and helps guests arrange longtail boat trips to explore Koh Phangan's quieter bays.—
Lauren Mowery,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
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There was one corner of the bay that did, however, seem busy.—
Akash Kapur,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In four lines, the poetry soars and plummets, travels up into the cosmos and back down into the abyss.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
12 Feb. 2025
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There is the abyss of self-doubt and insecurity on one hand, the desire to create something unique and universally admired on the other, and jealousy and envy in the middle.—
Karl Ove Knausgaard,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Several viewpoints offer vertigo-inducing views into the canyon and the river far below.—
Joe Yogerst,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
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Critics also point to the way the stunning property is used, with the ocean not coming into play enough and the large canyon only really being used on one hole.—
Brody Miller,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Even with recent gains, Black Americans are still outnumbered 12 to 1 by white people in executive roles – a gap seven times wider than found in the overall workforce at those companies.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
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And there’s a more than $100 million gap between the cost of local school districts’ special education programs and the aid the state provides.—
Jessika Harkay,
Hartford Courant,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Harsh cold descended on the nation's midsection Monday as a polar vortex gripped the Rockies and Northern Plains after winter storms pummeled the eastern U.S. over the weekend, killing at least 13 people, including at least 11 in Kentucky who died during flooding from heavy rains.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2025
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The vortex has been forecast to move over Canada and the northern U.S. around mid-February.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Although it was just released today, my for you page has already been flooded with rave reviews of the skin tint.—
Kleigh Balugo,
StyleCaster,
21 Feb. 2025
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One important factor: the high-water mark, which can indicate how badly a building flooded.—
Jeff Weiner,
Axios,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Prosecutors accused Vo of dumping Tran and Ly in the Oakland estuary.—
Nate Gartrell,
The Mercury News,
19 Feb. 2025
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Vibrio vulnificus thrives in estuaries when temperatures exceed 18°C and salinities range from 10–20 ppt.—
John Drake,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Earth's crust varies in thickness from about 5 to 75 km (3 to 47 miles), with the thinnest parts tending to be way out in the deep ocean.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Feb. 2025
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The air flows from the east to the west provide ocean influence to impart subtle saline notes to the wine.—
Akiko Katayama,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gulf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gulf. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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