Take the 2-minute tour ×

Could somebody tell me, what is the positive of the word "Abyss" ? As I know, abyss means an infinite depth or abode of evils, Hell. So isn't there any word which will mean the same as infinite depth or void but without pointing towards the negativity of Hell ?

share|improve this question
Based on your comments to JLG, perhaps you need to clarify this question. "Abyss" literally means "a very deep chasm or void". If you're talking about someone's emotions, how could any word with a similar meaning not be negative? I have trouble imagining "far down; big, dark and empty" as something cheerful. Do you want to say that feelings "go far" without implying that they are negative? Perhaps what you are looking for is a word more like "intense". –  Jay Jun 26 '12 at 14:27
In most cases, the antonym of "abyss" would be "peak." I'm not sure that there is a word that has the same meaning as "abyss" (chasm, gorge, trench, etc.) that won't be taken as a negative by most listeners. If your willing to go wide rather than deep, you could use "expanse," or some other suitable synonym. –  oosterwal Jun 27 '12 at 2:32

7 Answers 7

up vote 4 down vote accepted

Yes: abyss, as in "abyssal depths" of the ocean. That's neutral and simply means "very very deep".

The infinite negativity of Hell is the Abyss with a capital A and (generally) the definite article.

share|improve this answer
Thanks for the answer but isn't there any other word because using "abyss" will be very confusing for others. Some of people will assume it to be the negative word. –  Abhineet Jun 26 '12 at 12:17
From abyss, via abysm, we get abysmal, which is about as negative a word as one can imagine. –  Brian Hooper Jun 26 '12 at 12:24
@Brian Hooper: OED gives two definitions for abysmal - 1: Of, pertaining to, or resembling an abyss; fathomless; deep-sunken. lit. and fig. 2: In weakened sense: of an exceptionally poor standard or quality; extremely bad. The first sense is neutral. –  FumbleFingers Jun 26 '12 at 12:42
@FumbleFingers, that's true, but only in the driest technical writing would you expect the word to be devoid of the baggage it carries from the second meaning. –  Brian Hooper Jun 26 '12 at 13:02
Hmm, I wonder how many people immediately think of Hell when they hear the word "abyss". My mental picture is of the bottom of the ocean or a very deep cave. And I'm an extreme Fundamentalist, if anyone thought of a theological connotation you'd think it would be me. :-) –  Jay Jun 26 '12 at 14:29

A comment from OP suggests he's looking for a neutral/positive word to describe metaphoric "depth" as applied to a person, in which context I suggest the person is perhaps...

profound - having intellectual depth and insight; characterized by intensity of feeling or quality.

The opposite is often expressed as shallow - lacking depth of intellect, emotion, or knowledge.

It's a little archaic/formal, but you can also say that someone "lacks bottom" (meaning they lack roots, grounding, or principles, rather than lacking gravitas/profundity). I've rarely if ever seen the non-negated form (it's invariably he lacks bottom, not he has bottom).

share|improve this answer

Could be 'vortex', if you mean some emptiness that causes a 'vertigo' sensation (being attracted to the void, or feeling like you could be falling). You could use 'precipice' as well. It would be nice to have some more clues about what is the context, so that it would be possible to make a more precise comment/suggestion on this.

share|improve this answer

I think infinite depth is pretty neutral.

Depending on your context, there are some geographic terms that have similar meanings to abyss (maybe without the "depth" aspect, though): ravine, gorge, canyon.

share|improve this answer
The context in which I want to use this word is related to human emotion. I want to personify this word. –  Abhineet Jun 26 '12 at 12:28
@Abhineet, normally when it's used in the sense of human emotion it means "very depressed". Can you explain more about the sense in which you're using it positively? –  Lunivore Jun 26 '12 at 12:30
That's what I am trying to ask. I want a word with parallel meaning of abyss but should not mean negative. You can say that I want to show the void or depth of a person but in one word to do all this. –  Abhineet Jun 26 '12 at 13:18
I think you can talk about the depth of a person's emotion, or even the breadth of his or her emotion. But the void of emotion would be something else altogether. Maybe the phrase "emotional profundity" (mentioned in the entry for "depth" I linked to) would work for your purposes. –  JLG Jun 26 '12 at 14:13
I like it!!!! :-) –  Abhineet Jun 27 '12 at 7:21

In Milton I believe the Abyss is anterior to Hell,


Perhaps the most positive 20th century association with an abyss is Georg Lukacs' Grand Hotel Abyss - pleasantly perched alongside "the womb of Nature," a little like the Columbia Gorge Hotel in Oregon, but with a picture of Schopenhauer instead of Rudolf Valentino in the lobby:


share|improve this answer

In my opinion the word zenith may well explain the opposite of abyss. As abyss means very deep shasm, metaphorically related to very depressing emotions, the word Zenith is the highest point on the celestial sphere infinitely high as the climax but again metaphorically represent very high flying and positive state of mind. in Urdu Zeenet means ultimate beauty.

share|improve this answer

How about fathomless and unfathomable? Eg: The beauty of God's creation is indeed unfathomable; meaning it's too profound to fully understand it for mankind.

share|improve this answer
+1 :-D Although I can't use it as I intended to but still the words explain themselves amazingly. it would be better if you can write some example too with your answer. –  Abhineet Mar 28 at 7:03
Eg: The beauty of God's creation is indeed unfathomable; meaning it's too profound to fully understand it for mankind. –  manu Mar 28 at 7:15
I meant, edit your answer and then provide the example. it would be good for other readers. :-) –  Abhineet Mar 28 at 7:18

Your Answer


