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GRE vocabulary

abyss

nounHigh-frequency wordMore A words

a deep, immeasurable chasm or void, often used figuratively for something profound or catastrophic

Word origin: From Greek abyssos, bottomless (a- without plus byssos depth).

In a sentence

Abyss in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing abyss in a sentence.

The country stared into the abyss of economic collapse after the currency failed.

After the funding collapsed, the once-thriving research institute slid into a financial abyss from which it never recovered.

Synonyms
chasmvoidgulfpit
Antonyms
surfaceshallows
Usage & nuance

Using “abyss” well

Abyss often functions figuratively to suggest a bottomless or catastrophic depth, lending a dramatic or ominous tone. Literally it names a chasm; figuratively it names ruin, despair, or the unknowable.

Common questions

Questions about “abyss

Abyss (noun) means a deep, immeasurable chasm or void, often used figuratively for something profound or catastrophic
Here is abyss used in an example sentence: "The country stared into the abyss of economic collapse after the currency failed." Another example: "After the funding collapsed, the once-thriving research institute slid into a financial abyss from which it never recovered."
Common synonyms for abyss include chasm, void, gulf, pit.
Antonyms of abyss include surface, shallows.
Abyss pairs with chasm, void, gulf, and pit in GRE Verbal. Its antonyms surface and shallows mark the contrast between profound depth and the superficial.
Yes. Abyss is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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