Synonyms

profoundly

American

[pruh-found-lee, proh‐] / prəˈfaʊnd li, proʊ‐ /

adverb

to a thorough or very great extent or degree; deeply.

Her songs range from light and humorous to profoundly moving.
The program provides creative opportunities for profoundly disabled people with severe or complex learning and communication needs.

Other Word Forms

unprofoundly adverb

Etymology

Origin of profoundly

profound ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

If you’re profoundly moved by the last chapter of that novel you’re reading, then you’re extremely moved — you feel it deep in your soul. The adverb profoundly means something similar to “extremely,” with the additional sense that it’s something intense and deeply felt. If you’re profoundly confused, you’re very confused — confused in a way that seems bottomless. The word can also describe something that affects you greatly. If you’re profoundly influenced by the works of Shakespeare, that means his writing shaped the whole way you think about writing, whether you're working on plays, limericks, love letters.

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Vocabulary lists containing profoundly

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Children are profoundly impacted by hunger, with consequences for mental health and development, among other things, extending far past childhood.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

My life changed profoundly when I moved to Salford to go to university.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

“I am profoundly pleased that this nightmare is finally over for my client,” said Concannon’s attorney, Tom Yu.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

“I did everything right,” is a refrain heard several times during the series, although the “right” is often profoundly wrong.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

“Nereids follow their own laws, Christopher. They’re profoundly rational, but in the same way that the sea is rational. Much of their language, Nerish, has no translation at all into any human tongue.”

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023