Meaning 1
Reaching deeply into meaning, understanding, or feeling.
Reach for it when praising insight or emotion whose depth changes how the subject is understood
His question prompted a profound reconsideration of what the archive had omitted.
Meaning 2
Very great in degree or far-reaching in effect.
Reach for it when describing a strong consequential change rather than ordinary importance
The new crossing had a profound effect on access to the clinic.
| Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| everyday | ||
| warm | ||
| professional | ||
| formal |
| |
| literary |
everyday
Fits when accessible language should name intellectual or emotional depth
Careful Deep is broad and can become vague without saying what changed.
warm
Fits when the depth is chiefly emotional
Careful A moving experience may be simple or brief rather than profound.
professional
Fits when understanding reveals an important pattern
Careful An insight can be sharp and useful without being profound.
professional
Fits when something stimulates serious reflection
Careful Provoking thought does not guarantee depth or truth.
formal
Fits when fundamental questions about meaning or knowledge are considered
Careful Philosophical material can be technical or detached rather than profound.
warm
Fits when the effect changes character or direction
Careful Transformation can be practical and gradual rather than profound.
professional
far-reaching
Fits when effects extend across time, groups, or systems
Careful Wide consequences can remain shallow in intensity or meaning.
formal
Fits when degree or magnitude is exceptionally large
Careful Immense does not identify depth, meaning, or lasting effect.
literary
momentous
Fits when an event has great historical or personal consequence
Careful It fits occasions and decisions better than feelings, knowledge, or silence.
profound insight
The interview offered profound insight into how families adapted the ritual.
profound effect
Reliable lighting had a profound effect on evening study.
profound respect
Her profound respect for the craft included frank attention to its hazards.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Naomi Persephone Amethyst, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated
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