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Synonyms

deep down

Idioms  

  1. At bottom, basically. For example, Deep down she was a rebel, or Although he would never admit it, deep down he was very fond of her. [c. 1900]

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.

And there are the storage wars that rage within ourselves, between our practical and our sentimental sides, over the cost of storing things that deep down we know we will never need.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

Assuming we are not religious—the author’s necessary caveat—then “we have ourselves put the authorities deep down inside us there.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

“We just got to dig deep down and everyone has got to bring effort every time, all the time,” Hayes said, “and that’s all we have to care about is defense.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2025

Amanda was troubled by what she saw, but she didn’t believe these were hateful boys, deep down.

From Slate • Dec. 5, 2025

But no matter how fierce his determination, Jonathan knew, deep down, that what happened now was beyond his control.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.