steep

Hard to climb

Steep describes a sharp incline or angle—a steep hill rises dramatically, steep stairs climb at a severe pitch.

The word extends to anything dramatically high or extreme: a steep price, steep demands, steep odds.

To steep something is to soak it in liquid, as tea leaves steep in hot water: Let the tea steep for five minutes.

By extension, a person steeped in something is thoroughly immersed: steeped in tradition, steeped in scandal.

slope

incline

Angled rising surface

gradientRate of change across space
ascentUpward movement
climbAscend using effort

grade · pitch · angle · rise · drop · descent · precipice · escarpment · cliff · bluff

soak

immerse

Plunge into liquid entirely

submergePlunge beneath liquid
saturateSoak to full capacity
drenchSoak something completely

infuse · marinate · brine · pickle · bathe · permeate · soften · extract · leach · macerate

expensive

pricey

Costing a lot

costlyHigh in price
exorbitantUnreasonably high, as costs
overpricedCosting more than warranted

premium · inflated · prohibitive · unaffordable · extravagant · excessive · dear · high-priced · unreasonable · outrageous

brew

tea

Steeped leaf beverage

infusionSteeping to extract essence
leavesTree's photosynthetic organs
kettleSpouted vessel for heating water

pot · tisane · oolong · chai · herbal · rooibos · green · black · tannins · aroma

intense

sharp

Fine-edged, or astute

dramaticStrikingly expressive or sudden
abruptSharp and unexpected
severeExtremely harsh or strict

extreme · drastic · sudden · precipitous · rapid · acute · marked · pronounced · striking · stark

Categories

mountain thingspeaks, summits, valleys, hills, cliffs
S wordssay, see, set, sit, son
mountain adjectivestowering, majestic, snow-capped, rugged, jagged
path conditionsmuddy, rocky, icy, slippery, wet
terrain wordshilly, rocky, muddy, sandy, flat
Trail Conditionswet, dry, muddy, icy, slippery

Opposites

incline/gradient

steepflat

Lacking vertical variation

gentle · level · gradual · horizontal · plane

price/cost

steepcheap

Low in price

inexpensive · affordable · reasonable · budget · economical

intensity/extremity

Developing slowly over time

gentle · moderate · mild · slight · modest

Phrases

steep hillAbrupt upward slope
steep learning curveDifficult initial skill acquisition
steep slopeAbrupt rise in terrain
steep climbSharply angled upward path
steep cliffsSharp vertical rock formations
steep decline

Family

steeped, steeping, steeps, steeply, steepness, steeper, steepest

Familiarity: Top 10,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G