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as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)
it was possible to peek through the rift in the fence and see the ball game
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to rupture
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of rift
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
25 June 2026
But there were no swipes, obvious or subtle, at an ECB hierarchy he has been said to be at war with and there was a firm denial of a rift with McCullum, echoing the sentiments expressed by the England coach on Tuesday.
—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
Gabe Allen,
Discover Magazine,
15 Sep. 2022
The police, unsurprisingly, started to fire tear gas canisters again, trying to rift and wedge the fleeing protesters.
—
Quartz Staff,
Quartz,
28 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for rift
Noun
The vent session was part of a larger rift with congressional Republicans over his second-term priorities.
—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
25 June 2026
But there were no swipes, obvious or subtle, at an ECB hierarchy he has been said to be at war with and there was a firm denial of a rift with McCullum, echoing the sentiments expressed by the England coach on Tuesday.
—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
24 June 2026
Verb
However, the supercontinent began to rift and splinter in the late Triassic about 230 million years ago.
—
Gabe Allen,
Discover Magazine,
15 Sep. 2022
The police, unsurprisingly, started to fire tear gas canisters again, trying to rift and wedge the fleeing protesters.
—
Quartz Staff,
Quartz,
28 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for rift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rift
Noun
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The fissure was visible before the war.
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So, too, does the idea that a soccer coach could close fissures that even the well-meaning among career politicians have failed to seal.
Noun
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And that gap has real consequences.
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The donated jet was designed to bridge the gap until the other planes are ready.
Verb
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In 1857, the southern stretch of the San Andreas fault ruptured, resulting in the Fort Tejon earthquake, one of the largest in the state's history.
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One fault rupturing could prompt a nearby fault — almost already to rupture — to go off in a quake.
Noun
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This cordless hand vacuum tackles messes on furniture, in the car, and all kinds of nooks and crannies thanks to its lightweight, compact design, extra-large dust cup capacity, and accessories like a crevice tool, scrubbing brush, and a self-cleaning pet power brush.
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And those who like an easygoing cleaning experience opt for robot vacuums to clean every corner and crevice around the house.
Noun
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The crash also resulted in a large hole in the side of the vessel.
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The piece has seven holes for customization, and it’s designed to be worn at the hips or waist.
Verb
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The latest bout of internal military struggle, which started in 2023, fracturing along every possible fault line—religious, ethnic, political, tribal, and international—has created what the United Nations is calling the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
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Their relationships with their bankers had been fractured as had their contracts with talent.
Verb
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As the aircraft approached Atlantic City, a portion of one of the main rotor blades separated, the NTSB report showed, tearing the transmission and rotor apart and sending the helicopter crashing onto the Garden State Parkway.
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Mara will have to avoid OKC’s first-round curse, as each of the Thunder’s last two lottery picks have torn an ACL before their rookie seasons.
Verb
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The excellent Julian Quinones’ early goal settled any nerves and then came the emotive, heart-rending second from talisman Raul Jimenez in the second half.
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Our mopey heroine is Percy Fraser (Sadie Soverall), a 28-year-old obituary writer who grew up spending summers lakeside in a small Canadian town but hasn’t been back since her world-rending split with Sam Florek (Matt Cornett), the boy next door.
Cite this Entry
“Rift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rift. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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