STEEP Synonyms: 207 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

steep 1 of 3

adjective

ˈstēp

Definition of steep

as in mountainous

having an incline approaching the perpendicular a very steep rock face that is nearly impossible to climb

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in excessive

going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount we would like to hire him, but his salary demands are just too steep

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

steep

2 of 3

verb

as in to suffuse

to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle grew up steeped in the ways of his ancestors a town steeped in history

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to soak

to wet thoroughly with liquid chew fresh ginger that has been steeped in hot water to aid digestion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

steep

3 of 3

noun

as in cliff

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of steep

Adjective

However, the proposal faces a steep procedural obstacle in the Senate, where most legislation needs 60 votes to invoke cloture and overcome a filibuster. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026 The Devil’s Backbone is named as such because of its shape, including segments where hikers walk a narrow stretch with steep drop-offs on both sides. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Verb

An album steeped so deeply in her roots was the perfect introduction for her new audience. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026 Grief expertise is attributed to those people that are really deeply steeped and trained in grief, so those might be therapists, those might be thanatologists who study death, and dying, and bereavement. — Mikaela Cohen, Fortune, 14 July 2026

Noun

Let the tea steep for a few minutes and remove and throw away the tea bags. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 19 June 2026 Plus, the compliance infrastructure required makes the cost of entry steep. — Sulolit Raj Mukherjee, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for steep

Recent Examples of Synonyms for steep

Adjective

That could bring some elevated humidity and a small chance of thunderstorms and cloud coverage in mountainous areas, but not enough to significantly lower temperatures across the region.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Poppe described seeing one of PG&E’s workers being lowered by rope from a helicopter onto a transmission tower in mountainous California.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of mountainous

Adjective

The statement, which named neither Hur nor anyone else, accepted that every film attracts harsh reviews along with praise, and asked who could draw an exact line between fair and excessive criticism.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
His decision to have Sale close out Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series and throw 21 pitches was cast as excessive.

— Ken Sugiura, AJC.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of excessive

Verb

The two large bathrooms had plenty of closet space and a deep soaking tub (there’s a third small powder room off the living area).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
With heavy rain soaking the region on Thursday, the National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for several rivers, including the Missouri River and locations along it.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of soak

Noun

Pilots have compared landing on the short runway, with either side plunging straight down off the side of a vertical cliff, to landing on an aircraft carrier.

— Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
This Victoria Falls masterpiece is, as its name suggests, modeled on the rich colors of one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls, which sits on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe where the Zambezi River plunges over a basalt cliff.

— Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of cliff

Adjective

Move items off the counter and onto vertical surfaces, cabinet interiors, pantry doors and refrigerator sides so work zones stay clear.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Rails, pegboards and magnetic strips open up vertical surfaces most people ignore.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of vertical

Adjective

Without intervention, those numbers will only grow as extreme events worsen.

— Justin Worland, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
Kenya's National Transport and Safety Authority called upon all motorists to exercise extreme caution, avoid dangerous overtaking and strictly observe lane discipline.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of extreme

Verb

Nowhere was that fact clearer than after each concert in the casino where rivers of black Metallica T-shirts flooded the pit.

— Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026
But suddenly everything will change, and clouds will come in, and in 10 to 15 minutes, rain will start and flood everywhere.

— William Earl, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of flood

Browse Nearby Words

steely

steep

steeped

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Steep.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steep. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of steep

adjective

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes