Synonyms for fathom
ˈfæð əmfath·om

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. fathomverb

   Synonyms:
   fathom out, figure out, work out, puzzle out

2. fathomverb

   Grasp, envelopment, control.

   Synonyms:
   figure out, fathom out, work out, puzzle out

3. fathomverb

   To measure the depth of, take a sounding of.

   Synonyms:
   work out, figure out, puzzle out, fathom out

4. fathomverb

   To get to the bottom of; to manage to comprehend (a problem etc.).

   I can't for the life of me fathom what this means.

   Synonyms:
   puzzle out, fathom out, work out, figure out

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.3 / 4 votes

1. fathom

   Synonyms:
   gauge, pierce, measure, sound, probe

   Antonyms:
   survey, glance, scan, overlook, miss, graze, skim

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. fathom, fthmnoun

   a linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) for water depth

   Synonyms:
   fthm

2. fathom, fthmverb

   (mining) a unit of volume (equal to 6 cubic feet) used in measuring bodies of ore

   Synonyms:
   fthm

3. penetrate, fathom, bottomverb

   come to understand

   Synonyms:
   click, imbue, riddle, dawn, infiltrate, permeate, perforate, diffuse, sink in, penetrate, come home, get through, bottom, fall into place, sound, pervade, get across, interpenetrate

4. fathom, soundverb

   measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line

   Synonyms:
   sound, vocalise, penetrate, voice, vocalize, bottom, go

Matched Categories

1. • Measure
   • Understand

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. fathomnoun

   Synonyms:
   six feet, two yards

2. fathomverb

   Synonyms:
   sound, try the depth of, measure by a sounding-line

3. fathomverb

   Synonyms:
   divine, penetrate, reach, understand, comprehend

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "fathom":

   understand

How to pronounce fathom?

How to say fathom in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use fathom in a sentence?

1. Jeb Bush:

   I was referring to the hard-to-fathom $500 million in federal funding that goes to Planned Parenthood -- an organization that was callously participating in the unthinkable practice of selling fetal organs.

2. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush:

   With regards to women's health funding broadly, I misspoke, as there are countless community health centers, rural clinics, and other women's health organizations that need to be fully funded. They provide critical services to all, but particularly low-income women who don't have the access they need, i was referring to the hard-to-fathom $ 500 million in federal funding that goes to Planned Parenthood -- an organization that was callously participating in the unthinkable practice of selling fetal organs. Democrats and Republicans agree we absolutely must defund them and redirect those funds to other women's health organizations.

3. William Shakespeare, "The Tempest", Act 1 scene 2:

   Full fathom five thy father lies; Of his bones are coral made; Those are pearls that were his eyes: Nothing of him that doth fade But doth suffer a sea-change Into something rich and strange.

4. Ryan Sweet:

   It is hard to fathom how partially rolling back the Trump cuts to pay for the infrastructure plan will meaningfully impede business investment, there is little relationship between the effective corporate tax rate and changes in real business equipment spending. Most U.S. corporations have no trouble getting cheap capital and they pay among the lowest effective tax rates in the world.

5. Mike Kisting:

   I can't fathom why a person would want to do that, he was lucky I wasn't there that day.