Profound vs. Deep — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 10, 2024
Profound implies significant, insightful, or intense depth, often in an intellectual or emotional context, while deep describes extensive depth physically, intellectually, or emotionally.
Difference Between Profound and Deep
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Profound experiences or ideas impact one's understanding or emotions deeply, suggesting a level of significance or intensity that can lead to transformative insights or changes. On the other hand, deep can refer to the physical measurement of depth, such as water or a hole, as well as to the complexity or intensity of emotions, thoughts, or concepts, without necessarily implying a transformative insight.
Profound knowledge or understanding denotes a comprehensive and insightful grasp of a subject, often implying wisdom or a penetrating intellectual depth that is not easily achieved. Whereas deep knowledge suggests a substantial understanding and familiarity with a subject, emphasizing the extent rather than the transformative or insightful nature of the knowledge.
In emotional contexts, profound feelings are intense and impactful, often suggesting a significant emotional experience or realization that affects one deeply. Deep emotions, while also intense, focus more on the depth of feeling rather than the transformative or insightful aspect that profound emotions might imply.
Profound discoveries or statements are characterized by their ability to alter our perception or understanding of a subject significantly, offering new insights or perspectives. Deep discoveries or statements, meanwhile, are notable for their complexity or the thorough understanding they demonstrate, without necessarily being transformative or insightful.
The use of profound in language often aims to highlight the significance, insight, or impact of something, making it a term frequently associated with intellectual, philosophical, or emotional depth. Deep, while also used in contexts requiring intellectual or emotional understanding, carries a broader application, including physical depth, making it versatile in describing various forms of intensity or complexity.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Context
Intellectual, emotional significance
Physical, intellectual, emotional depth
Implication
Transformative insight or impact
Extent of depth or complexity
Emotional Connotation
Intense, impactful emotions
Intense emotions, without emphasis on impact
Intellectual Use
Insightful understanding, wisdom
Comprehensive understanding, complexity
Physical Application
Rarely used
Commonly used to describe physical depth
Compare with Definitions
Profound
Significantly insightful or impactful.
The book offers profound insights into human nature.
Deep
Comprehensive in understanding or knowledge.
His deep knowledge of history is impressive.
Profound
Emotionally or intellectually penetrating.
The poet's work is known for its profound depth.
Deep
Extending far down from the surface.
The diver explored the deep ocean.
Profound
Deeply affecting or transformative.
She experienced a profound change after the workshop.
Deep
Having complex or significant implications.
The novel explores deep themes of identity.
Profound
Of great intensity or seriousness.
The crisis had a profound effect on the community.
Deep
Very intense or extreme.
He felt a deep sadness after the news.
Profound
Reaching deep into thought or knowledge.
His profound understanding of the law was respected.
Deep
Thoroughly absorbed or engrossed.
She was deep in thought.
Profound
(of a state, quality, or emotion) very great or intense
Profound feelings of disquiet
The implications of this discovery are profound
Deep
Extending far down from the top or surface
The lake was deep and cold
A deep gorge
Profound
(of a person or statement) having or showing great knowledge or insight
A profound philosopher
Deep
Very intense or extreme
She was in deep trouble
A deep sleep
Profound
Very deep
Profound crevasses
Deep
(of sound) low in pitch and full in tone; not shrill
A deep, resonant voice
Profound
The deepest part of something, especially the ocean
Nor billowy surge disturbs the vast profound
Deep
(of colour) dark and intense
A deep pink
Profound
Having, showing, or requiring great insight or understanding
A profound thinker.
A profound analysis.
Deep
The sea
Denizens of the deep
Profound
Deeply felt or held; intense
Profound contempt.
A profound conviction.
Deep
The part of the field distant from the batsman.
Profound
Thoroughgoing; far-reaching
Profound social changes.
Deep
Far down or in; deeply
He travelled deep into the forest
Profound
Unqualified or unbroken
A profound silence.
Profound sleep.
Deep
Extending far downward below a surface
A deep hole in the river ice.
Profound
Situated at, extending to, or coming from a great depth; deep
A profound chasm.
Deep
Extending far inward from an outer surface
A deep cut.
Profound
Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to great depth; deep.
Deep
Extending far backward from front to rear
A deep walk-in refrigerator.
Profound
Very deep; very serious
Deep
Extending far from side to side from a center
A deep yard surrounding the house.
Profound
Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough
A profound investigation
A profound scholar
Profound wisdom
Deep
Far distant down or in
Deep in the woods.
Profound
Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading
Deep
Coming from or penetrating to a depth
A deep sigh.
Profound
Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive
Deep
(Sports) Located or taking place near the outer boundaries of the area of play
Deep left field.
Profound
(obsolete) The deep; the sea; the ocean.
Deep
Extending a specific distance in a given direction
Snow four feet deep.
Profound
(obsolete) An abyss.
Deep
Far distant in time or space
Deep in the past.
Profound
(obsolete) To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down.
Deep
Difficult to penetrate or understand; recondite
A deep metaphysical theory.
Profound
(obsolete) To dive deeply; to penetrate.
Deep
Of a mysterious or obscure nature
A deep secret.
Ancient and deep tribal rites.
Profound
Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to a great depth; deep.
Deep
Very learned or intellectual; wise
A deep philosopher.
Profound
Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough; as, a profound investigation or treatise; a profound scholar; profound wisdom.
Deep
Exhibiting great cunning or craft
Deep political machinations.
Profound
Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading; overmastering; far-reaching; strongly impressed; as, a profound sleep.
Of the profound corruption of this class there can be no doubt.
Deep
Of a grave or extreme nature
Deep trouble.
Deepest deceit.
Profound
Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive; as, a profound bow.
What humble gestures! What profound reverence!
Deep
Very absorbed or involved
Deep in thought.
Deep in financial difficulties.
Profound
The deep; the sea; the ocean.
God in the fathomless profoundHath all this choice commanders drowned.
Deep
Profound in quality or feeling
A deep trance.
Deep devotion.
Profound
An abyss.
Deep
Rich and intense in shade. Used of a color
A deep red.
Profound
To cause to sink deeply; to cause to dive or penetrate far down.
Deep
Low in pitch; resonant
A deep voice.
Profound
To dive deeply; to penetrate.
Deep
Covered or surrounded to a designated degree. Often used in combination
Waist-deep in the water.
Ankle-deep in snow.
Profound
Showing intellectual penetration or emotional depths; from the depths of your being;
The differences are profound
A profound insight
A profound book
A profound mind
Profound contempt
Profound regret
Deep
Large in quantity or size; big
Deep cuts in the budget.
Profound
Of the greatest intensity; complete;
A profound silence
A state of profound shock
Deep
(Sports) Having a sufficient number of capable reserve players
That team is not very deep.
Profound
Far-reaching and thoroughgoing in effect especially on the nature of something;
The fundamental revolution in human values that has occurred
The book underwent fundamental changes
Committed the fundamental error of confusing spending with extravagance
Profound social changes
Deep
To a great depth; deeply
Dig deep.
Feelings that run deep.
Profound
Coming from deep within one;
A profound sigh
Deep
Well along in time; late
Worked deep into the night.
Profound
(of sleep) deep and complete;
A heavy sleep
Fell into a profound sleep
A sound sleeper
Deep wakeless sleep
Deep
(Sports) Close to the outer boundaries of the area of play
Played deep for the first three innings.
Ran deep into their opponents' territory.
Profound
Situated at or extending to great depth; too deep to have been sounded or plumbed;
The profound depths of the sea
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean
Unplumbed depths of the sea
Remote and unsounded caverns
Deep
A deep place in land or in a body of water
Drowned in the deep of the river.
Deep
A vast, immeasurable extent
The deep of outer space.
Deep
The extent of encompassing time or space; firmament.
Deep
The most intense or extreme part
The deep of night.
Deep
The ocean.
Deep
(Nautical) A sounding that falls between marks on a lead line and thus corresponds to an estimated depth rather than a precise depth.
Deep
Extending far away from a point of reference, especially downwards.
Deep
Extending far down from the top, or surface, to the bottom, literally or figuratively.
The lake is extremely deep.
We hiked into a deep valley between tall mountains.
There was a deep layer of dust on the floor; the room had not been disturbed for many years.
In the mid-1970s, the economy went into a deep recession.
We are in deep trouble.
Deep
Far in extent in another (non-downwards, but generally also non-upwards) direction away from a point of reference.
The shelves are 30 centimetres deep. — They are deep shelves.
Deep
(in combination) Extending to a level or length equivalent to the stated thing.
The water was waist-deep.
There is an arm-deep hole in the wall.
Deep
In a (specified) number of rows or layers.
A crowd three deep along the funeral procession
Deep
Thick.
That cyclist's deep chest allows him to draw more air.
Deep
Voluminous.
To take a deep breath / sigh / drink
Deep
Positioned or reaching far, especially down through something or into something.
Diving down to deep wrecks can be dangerous.
I can't get the bullet out – it's too deep.
Deep
Complex, involved.
Deep
Profound, having great meaning or import, but possibly obscure or not obvious.
That is a deep thought!
Deep
Significant, not superficial, in extent.
They're in deep discussion.
Deep
Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; intricate; obscure.
A deep subject or plot
Deep
Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning.
Deep
Low in pitch.
She has a very deep contralto voice.
Deep
(of a color or flavour) Highly saturated; rich.
That's a very deep shade of blue.
The spices impart a deep flavour to the dish.
Deep
(sleep) Sound, heavy (describing a state of sleep from which one is not easily awoken).
He was in a deep sleep.
Deep
Muddy; boggy; sandy; said of roads.
Deep
(of time) Distant in the past, ancient.
Deep time
In the deep past
Deep
Far, especially far down through something or into something, physically or figuratively.
The ogre lived in a cave deep underground.
We ventured deep into the forest.
His problems lie deep in the subconscious.
I am deep in debt.
Deep
(also deeply) In a profound, not superficial, manner.
I thought long and deep.
Deep
(also deeply) In large volume.
Breathe deep, drink deep
Deep
(sports) Back towards one's own goal, baseline, or similar.
He's normally a midfield player, but today he's playing deep.
Deep
The deep part of a lake, sea, etc.
Creatures of the deep
Deep
(with "the") The sea, the ocean.
Deep
A deep hole or pit, a water well; an abyss.
Deep
A silent time; quiet isolation.
The deep of night
Deep
(rare) A deep shade of colour.
Deep
The profound part of a problem.
Deep
(cricket) A fielding position near the boundary.
Russell is a safe pair of hands in the deep.
Deep
Extending far below the surface; of great perpendicular dimension (measured from the surface downward, and distinguished from high, which is measured upward); far to the bottom; having a certain depth; as, a deep sea.
The water where the brook is deep.
Deep
Extending far back from the front or outer part; of great horizontal dimension (measured backward from the front or nearer part, mouth, etc.); as, a deep cave or recess or wound; a gallery ten seats deep; a company of soldiers six files deep.
Shadowing squadrons deep.
Safely in harborIs the king's ship in the deep nook.
Deep
Low in situation; lying far below the general surface; as, a deep valley.
Deep
Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; - opposed to shallow or superficial; intricate; mysterious; not obvious; obscure; as, a deep subject or plot.
Speculations high or deep.
A question deep almost as the mystery of life.
O Lord, . . . thy thoughts are very deep.
Deep
Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning.
Deep clerks she dumbs.
Deep
Profound; thorough; complete; unmixed; intense; heavy; heartfelt; as, deep distress; deep melancholy; deep horror.
An attitude of deep respect.
Deep
Strongly colored; dark; intense; not light or thin; as, deep blue or crimson.
Deep
Of low tone; full-toned; not high or sharp; grave; heavy.
The bass of heaven's deep organ.
Deep
Muddy; boggy; sandy; - said of roads.
The ways in that vale were very deep.
Deep
To a great depth; with depth; far down; profoundly; deeply.
Deep-versed in books, and shallow in himself.
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.
Deep
That which is deep, especially deep water, as the sea or ocean; an abyss; a great depth.
Courage from the deeps of knowledge springs.
The hollow deep of hell resounded.
Blue Neptune storms, the bellowing deeps resound.
Deep
That which is profound, not easily fathomed, or incomprehensible; a moral or spiritual depth or abyss.
Thy judgments are a great deep.
The deep of night is crept upon our talk.
Deep
The central and most intense or profound part;
In the deep of night
In the deep of winter
Deep
A long steep-sided depression in the ocean floor
Deep
Literary term for an ocean;
Denizens of the deep
Deep
Relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply;
A deep breath
A deep sigh
Deep concentration
Deep emotion
A deep trance
In a deep sleep
Deep
Marked by depth of thinking;
Deep thoughts
A deep allegory
Deep
Having great spatial extension or penetration downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or laterally or outward from a center; sometimes used in combination;
A deep well
A deep dive
Deep water
A deep casserole
A deep gash
Deep massage
Deep pressure receptors in muscles
Deep shelves
A deep closet
Surrounded by a deep yard
Hit the ball to deep center field
In deep space
Waist-deep
Deep
Very distant in time or space;
Deep in the past
Deep in enemy territory
Deep in the woods
A deep space probe
Deep
Extreme;
In deep trouble
Deep happiness
Deep
Having or denoting a low vocal or instrumental range;
A deep voice
A bass voice is lower than a baritone voice
A bass clarinet
Deep
Strong; intense;
Deep purple
A rich red
Deep
Relatively thick from top to bottom;
Deep carpets
Deep snow
Deep
Extending relatively far inward;
A deep border
Deep
(of darkness) very intense;
Thick night
Thick darkness
A face in deep shadow
Deep night
Deep
Large in quantity or size;
Deep cuts in the budget
Deep
With head or back bent low;
A deep bow
Deep
Of an obscure nature;
The new insurance policy is written without cryptic or mysterious terms
A deep dark secret
The inscrutible workings of Providence
In its mysterious past it encompasses all the dim origins of life
Rituals totally mystifying to visitors from other lands
Deep
Difficult to penetrate; incomprehensible to one of ordinary understanding or knowledge;
The professor's lectures were so abstruse that students tended to avoid them
A deep metaphysical theory
Some recondite problem in historiography
Deep
Exhibiting great cunning usually with secrecy;
Deep political machinations
A deep plot
Deep
To a great depth;
Dived deeply
Dug deep
Deep
To an advanced time;
Deep into the night
Talked late into the evening
Deep
To far into space;
Penetrated deep into enemy territory
Went deep into the woods
Common Curiosities
Can "profound" and "deep" be used interchangeably?
While they can overlap in meaning, especially in contexts of intellectual or emotional depth, "profound" often adds a nuance of transformative insight or significant impact that "deep" does not necessarily convey.
Is "deep" more physical than "profound"?
Yes, "deep" can describe physical depth (e.g., of water or a hole), a usage not typical for "profound."
How do I know whether to use "profound" or "deep"?
Consider the context: if emphasizing transformative insight or significant impact, use "profound." If describing the extent of depth or complexity, "deep" might be more appropriate.
Is "profound" always positive?
Not necessarily; "profound" describes intensity and significance, which can apply to both positive and negative contexts.
Can a person be described as both "profound" and "deep"?
Yes, a person can be described as "profound" if they have a significant impact or insightfulness, and "deep" if they possess extensive knowledge or emotional complexity.
Can an experience be both profound and deep?
Yes, an experience can be described as both if it is intensely immersive (deep) and significantly insightful or transformative (profound).
Can the depth of a relationship be described as "profound"?
Yes, describing a relationship as "profound" implies a deep, transformative impact or connection beyond just emotional depth.
How does one achieve a "profound" understanding of a subject?
Achieving a profound understanding typically involves deep study, reflection, and the ability to grasp the underlying principles or insights that offer new perspectives.
Can "deep" be used in a superficial context?
It's less common, as "deep" implies a certain level of complexity or intensity, even when used metaphorically in non-physical contexts.
Is "profound" used more in formal or academic language?
"Profound" might be more prevalent in formal or academic contexts due to its association with significant insight or impact.
Is it common for music or art to be described as "profound"?
Yes, music or art that deeply moves people or provides significant insight into the human condition can be described as profound.
How does the use of "profound" differ across cultures?
The perception of what constitutes a profound insight or impact can vary by cultural context, influencing the use and interpretation of the term.
Does "deep" imply a level of difficulty in understanding?
"Deep" can imply complexity or thoroughness that might be challenging to grasp fully, but it doesn't inherently signify difficulty.
Are "profound" discoveries always scientific?
No, profound discoveries can be in any field, including science, philosophy, or art, where they significantly alter understanding or perspectives.
Does "deep" have a similar emotional weight to "profound"?
"Deep" can describe strong emotions, but "profound" often carries a heavier emotional weight due to its implication of significant impact or insight.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
