variants
also cañon
as in ravine
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage
as the scouts made their way through the canyon, they marveled at the sheer walls of rock on both sides
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of canyon
This ocean canyon heaves waves of shale and basalt, quartz and silt.
—
Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
That’s due in large part to its natural beauty—towering mountains, spectacular canyons, and rushing waters inspire hiking, biking, fly-fishing and a number of other outdoor pursuits.
—Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 17 Mar. 2026
During this time, those of us whose lives are entwined with the canyon — hiking guides and river guides, geologists and naturalists, historians and writers — communicated incessantly with one another.
—New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Deep canyons are best left to the raccoons and coyotes that call them home.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for canyon
Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
That’s due in large part to its natural beauty—towering mountains, spectacular canyons, and rushing waters inspire hiking, biking, fly-fishing and a number of other outdoor pursuits.
—Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 17 Mar. 2026
During this time, those of us whose lives are entwined with the canyon — hiking guides and river guides, geologists and naturalists, historians and writers — communicated incessantly with one another.
—New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Deep canyons are best left to the raccoons and coyotes that call them home.
—The San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for canyon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for canyon
Noun
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In 2024, Contra Costa County investigators searched a ravine and found the ladder Matthew Muller described using to climb into a family's house weeks after the March 2015 attack on Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn.—
Lauren Clark,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
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The trees, lining the base of the ravine at the park’s narrow creek, have been turned to stumps and piles of branches.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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One of the most popular hikes—the Vikos Gorge—journeys through one of the deepest gorges, winding along quiet villages and monasteries.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
23 Mar. 2026
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The Bolaven Plateau is a place where remnants of ancient volcanic activity, such as lava cliffs and extinct volcanic craters, coexist with lush natural landscapes that feature breathtaking waterfalls, deep gorges, and dramatic riverscapes.—
Jasmine Ting,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Camouflaged in a valley speckled with just a handful of villas and farmsteads, the 16 stone houses overlook the naked dunes and sensational sunsets of Livadia Bay.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Great Rift Valley is an epic series of valleys and mountains carving its way 3,000 miles through East Africa and beyond.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Canyon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/canyon. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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