as in cliffs
a type of hill with a flat top and steep sides that is found in the southwestern U.S.
The otherworldly sandstone buttes of Monument Valley, Arizona are well worth a visit.
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Recent Examples of buttes
As Arizona yielded to New Mexico, the dirt seemed to get redder and the ridges rose to form buttes.
—
Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
This sea of sharp buttes and sky-high pinnacles offers numerous west-facing vantage points.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 1 Mar. 2026
Hike through the poppies on a short series of moderate trails that run just a few miles in length, affording views of the poppy fields and surrounding buttes.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Within minutes, guests can be standing beneath the stone arches of Arches National Park, 4 miles away, or surveying mesas and buttes in Canyonlands National Park, 30 miles southwest, where the Colorado and Green rivers have carved the landscape for centuries.
—Cari Shane, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
Enchantment's accommodations include casitas and suites, with designs and decor inspired by the Southwest desert landscape and views of Sedona's red rock buttes.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
This sea of sharp buttes and sky-high pinnacles offers numerous west-facing vantage points.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 1 Mar. 2026
Hike through the poppies on a short series of moderate trails that run just a few miles in length, affording views of the poppy fields and surrounding buttes.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Within minutes, guests can be standing beneath the stone arches of Arches National Park, 4 miles away, or surveying mesas and buttes in Canyonlands National Park, 30 miles southwest, where the Colorado and Green rivers have carved the landscape for centuries.
—Cari Shane, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
Enchantment's accommodations include casitas and suites, with designs and decor inspired by the Southwest desert landscape and views of Sedona's red rock buttes.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for buttes
Noun
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From Croatia’s medieval walls to Ireland’s cliffs to Italy’s cave dwellings, the most cinematic filming locations in the world also happen to be affordable destinations best explored on foot.—
Lauren Schuster,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Mar. 2026
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Steep, shallow slopes with rocky features — including cliffs and large outcroppings — are often the first areas to see wet avalanche activity.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
High temperatures are leading to some significant impacts in Colorado's mountains.—
Jesse Sarles,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
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Revenue growth and a demonstration of strong monetization on the mountains of cash the company has piled into AI research have certainly not been up to our expectations.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Tectonic movement has shaped San Diego County into a rough collection of valleys, foothills, urban canyons and mesas.—
The San Diego Union Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Think again, as the California Zephyr, the longest route in America crosses through seven states, carving up Colorado’s canyons, then passing into Utah where the sun ignites mesas into flaming towers of rock.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Thailand Located in the northern highlands of Thailand in Chiang Mai province, Doi Inthanon National Park is the picture of combined natural grandeur and cultural richness.—
Jasmine Ting,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
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The ambitious supernatural chiller, rooted in folklore from Vietnam’s northern highlands, is scheduled for release in Vietnam on April 24 to coincide with the major Reunification Day holiday period.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Mar. 2026
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Today, the Dolomites are a UNESCO heritage site and their beauty attracts celebrities and huge numbers of other tourists — many lured by images shared on social media of the turquoise Alpine lakes and stunning peaks.—
Ruth Sherlock,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Buttes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/buttes. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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