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

Torre, of course, is the journalist who broke the Los Angeles Clippers-Kawhi Leonard salary cap scandal, an investigation that resulted in the team and owner Steve Ballmer facing steep penalties and a possible criminal investigation. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026 Although the steep decline has stabilized, the total export numbers have not completely recovered yet. — Ella Chakarian, Los Angeles Times, 15 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

In Southern California, the Red Flag Warning for the mountainous areas in Ventura and Los Angeles counties will be in effect from Thursday morning through Friday night.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Elsewhere, Southern California Edison is considering over 120,000 customer shutoffs between the mountainous areas of Ventura, Los Angeles and San Bernardino.

— Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of mountainous

Adjective

During their interviews, Haddock said the researchers found a lack of recognition by firefighters that their consumption levels were considered excessive.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026
Inland, southern San Bernardino County faces at least a 40% chance of excessive rain that could result in flash flooding through Saturday night, said Julie Phillipson, lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Las Vegas.

— Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of excessive

Verb

Previous research from the same site suggests that Neanderthals may have soaked and cooked meals of plants and legumes together.

— Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Strong overnight storms brought heavy rain and damaging winds to the Kansas City area, leaving parts of the metro soaked with 1 to 2 inches of rain.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of soak

Noun

Italy’s tourism site notes that professional divers leap from the cliffs during organized events.

— Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Travelers familiar with Scotland’s Isle of Skye may recognize this recipe for remote luxury, though rather than craggy cliffs and emerald-green glens, Noirmoutier is closer to a little slice of California.

— Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of cliff

Adjective

It has since been lifted to a vertical position and moved inside the bay alongside three other Ship upper stages still under assembly.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026
The cover lifts up and back, exposing the build platform, resin tank, and vertical motion system with generous access from the front and sides.

— Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of vertical

Verb

To make way for what will be the third reservoir to serve the canal, an area of more than 11,000 acres that is currently home to schools, churches, farms and cemeteries will have to be flooded and at least 1,600 residents re-homed.

— Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
In the post-George Floyd era, some young adults have been reluctant to become police officers compared to the days when departments were flooded with applications from eager jobseekers.

— Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 18 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 20 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

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

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

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes