Deep-lying is an adjective used to describe something that is situated far beneath the surface or is strongly rooted. It is often used in the context of sports to refer to midfield players who tend to play deeper in their team's formation. Some synonyms for deep-lying include profound, fundamental, bottom, underlying, embedded, entrenched, grounded, and rooted. These words convey a similar sense of something being rooted or situated at a significant depth. For example, a team might rely on a profound midfielder to control the pace of the game from a deep-lying position. Ultimately, the choice of synonym will depend on the specific context and desired emphasis.