profound
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for profound, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Showing great depth of thought, understanding, or feeling.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use profound
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin profundus, "deep," from pro- plus fundus ("bottom, foundation").
Full origin of profound →Frequently asked questions
What does “profound” mean?
The word “profound” means showing great depth of thought, understanding, or feeling. In plain terms, very deep — whether that's deep thinking, deep feeling, or literal depth.
How do you pronounce “profound”?
“Profound” is pronounced pruh-FOWND (/pɹəˈfaʊnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “profound” in a sentence?
Here is “profound” used in a sentence: “She made a profound observation about grief that stayed with him for years.”
What is another word for “profound”?
Words with a similar meaning to “profound” include deep-grounded.
What part of speech is “profound”?
“Profound” is an adjective.
Where does the word “profound” come from?
The word “profound” comes from Latin. From Latin profundus, "deep," from pro- plus fundus ("bottom, foundation").
Is “profound” a common word?
“Profound” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “profound” have?
“Profound” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: showing great depth of thought, understanding, or feeling.
What is the difference between 'profound' and 'deep'?
'Deep' is the everyday word for something far below the surface or emotionally intense, while 'profound' is more formal and usually describes great depth of thought, insight, or feeling. A profound remark shows serious intellectual or emotional depth, whereas 'deep' can be literal or figurative.
What is the difference between 'profound' and 'profuse'?
'Profound' means showing great depth of thought or feeling, while 'profuse' means plentiful or given in large amounts, as in profuse apologies. The words look similar but are unrelated in meaning.
What nouns commonly follow 'profound'?
'Profound' often pairs with nouns like effect, impact, influence, change, silence, and respect, as in a profound effect or a profound silence. These collocations emphasise something being deep, intense, or far-reaching.
When should you use 'profound' instead of 'deep'?
Use 'profound' when you want to stress intellectual or emotional depth in a more formal or emphatic way, such as a profound understanding. Use 'deep' for everyday descriptions, whether physical, like deep water, or figurative, like a deep voice.