What's the difference between "profound" and " deep" ? For instance: (1) They existed in a state of 【profound/deep】 apathy, like extinct volcanoes, in the words of one doctor. (2) However, the most

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EnolaGayTibbets1

What's the difference between "profound" and " deep" ? For instance: (1) They existed in a state of 【profound/deep】 apathy, like extinct volcanoes, in the words of one doctor. (2) However, the most 【profound/deep】 sense of loss many astronauts have felt is the missing connection to their normal life. Thank you very much ~

Aug 31, 2023 6:00 PM

Answers · 5

Invitee

They're synonymous and usually they're interchangeable, but in your second example only "profound" works because the superlative form of "deep" is "deepest." Perhaps "profound" collocates better in the first one, but "deep" is also grammatically correct.

August 31, 2023

They mean the same. The only difference is the origin of the words. "Deep" comes from Old English, descending from German and Scandinavian roots. "Profound" comes from Latin.

September 1, 2023

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