abyssal

A1B3Y4S1S1A1L1
UK/əˈbɪs.l̩/

adjective

Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable.

Similar
abysmalunfathomabledeep
OriginMedieval Latin abyssalis ← Latin abyssus →
UncommonFirst used First attested in the mid 17ᵗʰ century.Scrabble 12
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Meanings

adjectiveabyssal (not comparable)
  1. archaicnot comparableBelonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable.First known use First attested in the mid 17ᵗʰ century.
  2. not comparablegeographyOf or belonging to the ocean depths, especially below 2000 metres (6500 ft): abyssal zone.First known use First attested in the mid 19ᵗʰ century.

    This "abyssal" life, typically in the form of strange tube-worms and microbes, is almost completely unknown to science.

    1994 November 15, The Canberra Times, Australian Captial Territory, page 11, column 6
    1 more example

    "Ea", the beneficent god of earth and life, who dwelt in the abyssal waters, was shown with two streams running from his hands or shoulders[.]

    1998, John H. Roger, “Origins of the ancient constellations: I. The Mesopotamian traditions”, in Journal of the British Astronomy Association, volume 108, number 1, page 11, column 1
  3. not comparablegeographyPertaining to or occurring at excessive depths in the earth's crust; plutonic.First known use First attested in the late 19ᵗʰ century.
  4. figurativelynot comparableIn the utter depths of despair; gloomy.

    In an attempt to avoid sliding into incorrigible despair, I abandon such abyssal and existential pondering and investigate the artist behind the work.

    1998 August 11, Tharunka, Kensington, page 35, column 1

Synonyms & antonyms

Broader
benthic

adjectiveresembling an abyss in depth; so deep as to be unmeasurable

Similar
abysmalunfathomabledeep
Also see
abysmalbenthicdeepplutonianplutonicunfathomable

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinabyssus“abyss”
  2. Medieval Latinabyssalis
  3. Englishabyssal

First attested in the 1690s. From Medieval Latin abyssalis, from Latin abyssus (“abyss”) + -alis (“-al”). Equivalent to abyss + -al.

More words from Medieval Latin, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian дълбоководен
  • дълбоководен (dălbokovoden)belonging to the ocean depths
Catalan abissal
  • abissalbelonging to the ocean depths
Czech abysální
  • abysálníbelonging to the ocean depths
Finnish abyssinen, abyssaalinen
  • abyssinenbelonging to the ocean depths
  • abyssaalinenbelonging to the ocean depths
German abyssisch
  • abyssischbelonging to the ocean depths
Greek αβυσσαλέος, απειροβαθής
  • αβυσσαλέος (avyssaléos)belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable
  • απειροβαθής (apeirovathís)belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable
  • απύθμενος (apýthmenos)belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable
  • αβυσσαίος (avyssaíos)belonging to the ocean depths
Hungarian abisszikus, abisszális
  • abisszikusbelonging to the ocean depths
  • abisszálisbelonging to the ocean depths
Persian مغاکی
  • مغاکی (maġâki)belonging to the ocean depths
Polish abisalny, abysalny
  • abisalnybelonging to the ocean depths
  • abysalnybelonging to the ocean depths
  • głębokomorskibelonging to the ocean depths
  • głębokowodnybelonging to the ocean depths
Portuguese abissal
  • abissalbelonging to the ocean depths
Romanian abisal, abisal
  • abisalbelonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable
  • abisalbelonging to the ocean depths
Russian абисса́льный, глуби́нный
  • абисса́льный (abissálʹnyj)belonging to the ocean depths
  • глуби́нный (glubínnyj)belonging to the ocean depths
  • глубоково́дный (glubokovódnyj)belonging to the ocean depths
Spanish abisal, abisal
  • abisalbelonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable
  • abisalbelonging to the ocean depths

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with abyssal

missilewhistlethistleepistlebristlegristlebisselmistlefinal whistlekisslemisselpistletwistle
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

abyssal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abyssal

MLA

“abyssal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abyssal. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “abyssal,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/abyssal.

Source: abyssal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.