as in escarpments
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice
the cliff rises 200 feet from the island's south shore
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of cliffs
There’s no denying the enduring glamour of this grande dame, whose secluded locale at the tip of the Cap is as much a draw for the jet set as the intimate cabanas where Greta Garbo once retreated and the saltwater infinity pool carved into the cliffs.
—
Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026
Additionally, the Gri Gri Lagoon’s one-of-a-kind boat tour through natural mangrove tunnels lets visitors admire the area's biodiversity before reaching impressive cliffs and hidden caves in the sea.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Its sheer red sandstone cliffs, carved over millions of years, cradle ancient cliff dwellings and rock art that tell stories of the ancestral Puebloans.
—Alia Beard Rau, USA Today, 10 June 2026
The historic bridge, which opened in 1932, has become known for its stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the cliffs of Big Sur.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Pebble beach, stone cliffs and open sea views shape the setting, while the villa’s southwest orientation draws sunlight through the day and holds the Adriatic in sight until sunset.
—Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
The trail leads to dreamy coves, dramatic cliffs, ancient archaeological sites and a lighthouse at the tip, with a sandstone ridge running down the core of the peninsula like a central spine.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
The lush, green fairways are tucked into the side of soaring stone cliffs and green mountain peaks.
—Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 4 June 2026
Remove the economic cliffs that prohibit people from climbing the ladder of success without the risk of losing public resources.
—Len Fasano, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2025
Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026
Additionally, the Gri Gri Lagoon’s one-of-a-kind boat tour through natural mangrove tunnels lets visitors admire the area's biodiversity before reaching impressive cliffs and hidden caves in the sea.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Its sheer red sandstone cliffs, carved over millions of years, cradle ancient cliff dwellings and rock art that tell stories of the ancestral Puebloans.
—Alia Beard Rau, USA Today, 10 June 2026
The historic bridge, which opened in 1932, has become known for its stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and the cliffs of Big Sur.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Pebble beach, stone cliffs and open sea views shape the setting, while the villa’s southwest orientation draws sunlight through the day and holds the Adriatic in sight until sunset.
—Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
The trail leads to dreamy coves, dramatic cliffs, ancient archaeological sites and a lighthouse at the tip, with a sandstone ridge running down the core of the peninsula like a central spine.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
The lush, green fairways are tucked into the side of soaring stone cliffs and green mountain peaks.
—Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 4 June 2026
Remove the economic cliffs that prohibit people from climbing the ladder of success without the risk of losing public resources.
—Len Fasano, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliffs
Noun
-
Just as the sun prepared to sink beyond the escarpments, its rays struck every piece of the fractured glass resting on top of the window frames, alighting all of them at once, as if they were shot with electricity.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
-
This park is all escarpments, rivers, and old forests.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That's why there are so few of us clinging to the crags of Mount Everest or decamping to Antarctica.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Coastal cliffs and crags are punctuated by black-sand beaches, and rich rain forests hide a towering volcanic cone.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The optical illusion reminded early settlers of the blockades of wooden stakes, or palisades, built around forts to ward off threats.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
-
In 2014, the regional nonprofit group SOS Sahel came to Barkadroussou and taught villagers to stabilize the dunes by building palisades of palm fronds.—
Julie Bourdin,
NPR,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Kahanamoku first surfed Corona del Mar in 1914, before the surf break was destroyed by jetties in the ’30s, and became friends with the Vultee family, which had a home on the bluffs.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
3 June 2026
-
The Fort Steele railroad bridge, for all its size, lay low ahead of them, a flush span carrying the tracks between those bluffs on either side of the river, its superstructure entirely below deck.—
Eric Moskowitz,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cliffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliffs. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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