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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cliffs
California purchased the swath of rocky cliffs and windswept shoreline in the 1960s to expand the construction of Highway 1 and create a scenic viewpoint for highway travelers, according to a California Coastal Commission report.
—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
Instead of sheer cliffs and waterfalls, the landscape is open and often windswept.
—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Visitors moved from the sandstone cliffs of Antelope Canyon to the dappled light of the Ponderosa forests, and then the bright starscape of the Sonoran Desert.
—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
30 June 2026
Authorities said the cliffs surrounding the pool rise between 10 and 60 feet, while the water averages just 37 degrees.
—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2026
If time allows, head north on Highway 61 to see legendary spots like Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, and the dramatic cliffs and hiking trails of Tettegouche State Park.
—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Midwest Living,
30 June 2026
Her profile has spectacular clips of her flying off terrifying cliffs and skiing out unfazed.
—
William Finnegan,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Biarritz is a tourist destination known for its rugged cliffs, beaches and status as one of Europe’s premier surfing spots.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
His calling-card changeup dove off cliffs and past the bats of Yankees hitters, who whiffed at 12 of them.
—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
25 June 2026
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
Instead of sheer cliffs and waterfalls, the landscape is open and often windswept.
—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Visitors moved from the sandstone cliffs of Antelope Canyon to the dappled light of the Ponderosa forests, and then the bright starscape of the Sonoran Desert.
—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
30 June 2026
Authorities said the cliffs surrounding the pool rise between 10 and 60 feet, while the water averages just 37 degrees.
—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2026
If time allows, head north on Highway 61 to see legendary spots like Gooseberry Falls, Split Rock Lighthouse, and the dramatic cliffs and hiking trails of Tettegouche State Park.
—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Midwest Living,
30 June 2026
Her profile has spectacular clips of her flying off terrifying cliffs and skiing out unfazed.
—
William Finnegan,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Biarritz is a tourist destination known for its rugged cliffs, beaches and status as one of Europe’s premier surfing spots.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
His calling-card changeup dove off cliffs and past the bats of Yankees hitters, who whiffed at 12 of them.
—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliffs
Noun
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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.
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This park is all escarpments, rivers, and old forests.
Noun
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That's why there are so few of us clinging to the crags of Mount Everest or decamping to Antarctica.
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Coastal cliffs and crags are punctuated by black-sand beaches, and rich rain forests hide a towering volcanic cone.
Noun
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The optical illusion reminded early settlers of the blockades of wooden stakes, or palisades, built around forts to ward off threats.
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In 2014, the regional nonprofit group SOS Sahel came to Barkadroussou and taught villagers to stabilize the dunes by building palisades of palm fronds.
Noun
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In Peninsula State Park, kayak beneath limestone bluffs or climb Eagle Tower for panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
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Teams should be much more aggressive in calling bluffs from agents in situations like this.
Cite this Entry
“Cliffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliffs. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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