chasm
Earth's gaping wound
A chasm is a deep, steep-sided opening in the earth's surface—a gorge or abyss.
The word extends to any profound gap or division: a chasm between rich and poor, the chasm separating their political views.
The figurative use emphasizes unbridgeable distance or fundamental incompatibility.
Deep river-cut gorge
- gorgeDeep, narrow valley
- ravineDeep, narrow valley
- crevasseDeep glacial fissure
- fissureNarrow crack in rock
abyss · gulf · cleft · rift · crevice · precipice · escarpment · fault
Unfilled space between
- breachBreaking of agreement
- riftCrack or estrangement
- splitSeparation into parts
- divideSeparate into parts
separation · gulf · schism · rupture · fracture · cleavage · discontinuity · divergence
Absence of substance
- abyssImmeasurably profound depth
- vacuumAbsence of matter
- nothingnessComplete absence of existence
- oblivionComplete erasure from memory
depths · darkness · hollow · yawning · gaping · maw · bottomless · unfathomable
Emotional separation between people
- alienationState of being isolated
- discordLack of agreement
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
- divisionSplitting into parts
separation · disconnect · polarization · breach · rupture · split · rift · disunion
Obstruction preventing passage
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- unbridgeableImpossible to connect across
- impassableImpossible to traverse
- gulfPartially enclosed sea
divide · impasse · insurmountable · formidable · daunting · overwhelming · forbidding · inaccessible
canyon
Deep river-cut gorge
fissure · abyss · gulf · cleft · rift · crevice · precipice · escarpment · fault · gully
gap
Unfilled space between
divide · separation · gulf · schism · rupture · fracture · cleavage · discontinuity · divergence · disconnect
emptiness
Absence of substance
- abyssImmeasurably profound depth
- vacuumAbsence of matter
- nothingnessComplete absence of existence
oblivion · depths · darkness · hollow · yawning · gaping · maw · bottomless · unfathomable · black
estrangement
Emotional separation between people
- alienationState of being isolated
- discordLack of agreement
- disagreementAbsence of shared opinion
division · separation · disconnect · polarization · breach · rupture · split · rift · disunion · dissension
barrier
Obstruction preventing passage
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
- unbridgeableImpossible to connect across
- impassableImpossible to traverse
gulf · divide · impasse · insurmountable · formidable · daunting · overwhelming · forbidding · inaccessible · unattainable
chasmbridge
Structure spanning an obstacle
connection · junction · link · juncture · span
chasmunity
Wholeness through cohesion
connection · closeness · bond · solidarity · accord