a
byss
Plural
abysses
1
a very deep or seemingly bottomless hole or gorge in the earth or sea
- The explorers lowered their equipment into the dark abyss beneath the cave entrance.
- The mountain climbers gazed nervously into the abyss below the cliff edge.
- A narrow bridge stretched across the abyss of the deep canyon.
- The submarine descended into the abyss of the ocean trench.
- She dropped a stone into the abyss and listened for the splash.
Synonyms:
2
a vast and deep division between people or ideas
- The cultural abyss between the two communities made cooperation difficult.
- There is an abyss of understanding between generations in the debate.
- Economic policies often reflect the abyss between rich and poor nations.
- The political divide created an abyss that was hard to bridge.
- The abyss between their worldviews grew wider with every argument.
3
the concept of hell as a dark, bottomless pit where the damned are cast
- Medieval literature often describes demons tormenting souls in the abyss.
- The old church murals depicted sinners being thrown into the abyss.
- The preacher warned of the eternal fire burning in the abyss for the wicked.
- Dante's Inferno famously portrays the abyss as a series of hellish circles.
- In mythology, the abyss was feared as the place of eternal punishment.
4
a situation of extreme danger or disaster that is imminent
- The nation was teetering on the abyss of economic collapse.
- After years of conflict, the region faced the abyss of total war.
- The company's financial troubles brought it close to the abyss of bankruptcy.
- Environmental experts warned that unchecked pollution would push the planet toward the abyss.
- The political scandal threatened to plunge the government into the abyss of chaos.