steep 1 of 3

steep

2 of 3

verb

steep

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word steep different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of steep are abrupt, precipitous, and sheer. While all these words mean "having an incline approaching the perpendicular," steep implies such sharpness of pitch that ascent or descent is very difficult.

a steep hill
a steep dive

When would abrupt be a good substitute for steep?

In some situations, the words abrupt and steep are roughly equivalent. However, abrupt implies a sharper pitch and a sudden break in the level.

a beach with an abrupt drop-off

When might precipitous be a better fit than steep?

While in some cases nearly identical to steep, precipitous applies to an incline approaching the vertical.

the river winds through a precipitous gorge

When is it sensible to use sheer instead of steep?

Although the words sheer and steep have much in common, sheer suggests an unbroken perpendicular expanse.

sheer cliffs that daunted the climbers

Examples of steep in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Next—onward along a rough and steep clay road where cyclists passed tobacco, maize, sunflower and vine fields in glorious autumn colors. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024 Weekends can get crowded, but weekdays are quieter, meaning the short, steep hikes to various overlooks—including Old Baldy (the park's most notable hill) will be less traversed. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024
Verb
The soups were the most generously portioned and came steeped with herbal medicine. Clarissa Wei, Bon Appétit, 16 Sep. 2024 Wicks’ creation is loaded with polyphenols and tastes several times more bitter than tea that has been steeped for too long. Siddhant Pusdekar, Journal Sentinel, 25 July 2024
Noun
Advertisement While that steep of a pay cut is viewed as unlikely, the Lakers could shed salary elsewhere to close that gap to a more palatable level. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2024 It is said that the boundless steeps of Asia gave flight to tales of heroes and heroines because the conditions there are so harsh. Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2015 See all Example Sentences for steep 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'steep.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near steep

Cite this Entry

“Steep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steep. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on steep

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!