as in escarpments
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice
the cliff rises 200 feet from the island's south shore
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Recent Examples of cliffs
For outdoor enthusiasts, the system now features excursions like the trek up the Eiðiskollur cliffs towering above the northern village of Eiði.
—
Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
Named for the Uto-Aztecan word for green, the property immerses guests in nature and local culture at every turn, appearing to all but dissolve into the emerald jungle and volcanic cliffs of the Sierra Madre.
—Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 19 June 2026
Built into the cliffs, the casual beach club had rows of umbrellas and chaises with plenty of places to swim.
—Madeline Fass, Vogue, 19 June 2026
There’s an eroding three-mile stretch of Highway 101 in California’s remote northwest corner that hugs fog-shrouded cliffs between the redwood forest and the Pacific Ocean.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Tumon Bay, the island’s main resort district, curves in a sweep of gorgeous waters backed by limestone cliffs and a skyline of hotels that reflect Guam’s long‑standing popularity with Japanese and Korean travelers.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 17 June 2026
In other social media videos, Fischer can be seen base jumping enthusiastically from sheer cliffs with only a parachute to break his fall.
—Matthew Kelly
updated June 15, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026
The firm also said the biotech sector is regaining momentum despite headwinds like cost pressures and looming patent cliffs.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 16 June 2026
Promotional videos on the company's website show pairs of people stepping off the edges of towering cliffs and briefly plummeting before their parachutes open.
—CBS News, 16 June 2026
Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
Named for the Uto-Aztecan word for green, the property immerses guests in nature and local culture at every turn, appearing to all but dissolve into the emerald jungle and volcanic cliffs of the Sierra Madre.
—Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 19 June 2026
Built into the cliffs, the casual beach club had rows of umbrellas and chaises with plenty of places to swim.
—Madeline Fass, Vogue, 19 June 2026
There’s an eroding three-mile stretch of Highway 101 in California’s remote northwest corner that hugs fog-shrouded cliffs between the redwood forest and the Pacific Ocean.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Tumon Bay, the island’s main resort district, curves in a sweep of gorgeous waters backed by limestone cliffs and a skyline of hotels that reflect Guam’s long‑standing popularity with Japanese and Korean travelers.
—David Dickstein, Oc Register, 17 June 2026
In other social media videos, Fischer can be seen base jumping enthusiastically from sheer cliffs with only a parachute to break his fall.
—Matthew Kelly
updated June 15, Kansas City Star, 16 June 2026
The firm also said the biotech sector is regaining momentum despite headwinds like cost pressures and looming patent cliffs.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 16 June 2026
Promotional videos on the company's website show pairs of people stepping off the edges of towering cliffs and briefly plummeting before their parachutes open.
—CBS News, 16 June 2026
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
-
Best Things to Do Visit Fort Mackinac Built atop the island’s limestone bluffs by British forces in 1780, Fort Mackinac changed hands multiple times over the centuries, but currently serves as a living history museum.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2026
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Today, visitors can hike miles of trails and take a scenic drive through the bluffs.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cliffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliffs. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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