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.

In recent years, this generation’s relationship with Punjabi music was shaped more profoundly by Punjabi rapper and singer Sidhu Moose Wala.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026

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

Making their stories visible profoundly healed her, she says.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Americans appear profoundly apprehensive about the potential impact of AI on society, with concerns ranging from widespread job losses to broad cybersecurity threats.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

It wasn’t just that this was all profoundly embarrassing, though that was certainly part of it.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

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