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
Several storms and a brutal Winter ate away at the dunes, which left behind steep cliffs.
—
Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 1 May 2026
This has been a story of unforeseen incidents, such as the unnoticed approach of the storm and the capsizing in front of high cliffs that prevented us from swimming ashore before the cold water had weakened us.
—Jim Hoagland, Outdoor Life, 30 Apr. 2026
Entalula Beach is remarkable for its white sand and turquoise waters, surrounded by dramatic limestone cliffs.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
In 2012 or 2013, the stake-and-rope barriers were installed between the sidewalk and the bluffs to encourage pedestrians to stay off the cliffs and use beach access stairs, said LJP&B President Ann Dynes.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Hiking below the steep red cliffs surrounding Zion Canyon is truly awe-inspiring, as are the park's slot canyons, emerald-colored pools, and waterfalls featuring hanging gardens.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026
But south at Punta Ixtapa, where volcanic cliffs drop into the maritime void, Horst Schulze's Capella Hotels staked a claim in 2008.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
As the footage continues, Muirhead glides over cliffs and homes, laptop in hand, appearing to continue his work mid-flight.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
The reserve features high, broken cliffs and deep ravines on headlands overlooking the ocean.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 1 May 2026
This has been a story of unforeseen incidents, such as the unnoticed approach of the storm and the capsizing in front of high cliffs that prevented us from swimming ashore before the cold water had weakened us.
—Jim Hoagland, Outdoor Life, 30 Apr. 2026
Entalula Beach is remarkable for its white sand and turquoise waters, surrounded by dramatic limestone cliffs.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
In 2012 or 2013, the stake-and-rope barriers were installed between the sidewalk and the bluffs to encourage pedestrians to stay off the cliffs and use beach access stairs, said LJP&B President Ann Dynes.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
Hiking below the steep red cliffs surrounding Zion Canyon is truly awe-inspiring, as are the park's slot canyons, emerald-colored pools, and waterfalls featuring hanging gardens.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026
But south at Punta Ixtapa, where volcanic cliffs drop into the maritime void, Horst Schulze's Capella Hotels staked a claim in 2008.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
As the footage continues, Muirhead glides over cliffs and homes, laptop in hand, appearing to continue his work mid-flight.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
The reserve features high, broken cliffs and deep ravines on headlands overlooking the ocean.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 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
-
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
-
Characteristic of the late Bronze Age or Iron Age periods of European history, hillforts generally refer to fortified, elevated settlements that were surrounded by barriers—usually made of earth, stone or wooden palisades—that created an enclosure.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In 2012 or 2013, the stake-and-rope barriers were installed between the sidewalk and the bluffs to encourage pedestrians to stay off the cliffs and use beach access stairs, said LJP&B President Ann Dynes.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The backstory The hotel first opened in 1961 as a 74-room inn catering largely to golfers and travelers drawn to the dramatic bluffs overlooking this once-wild stretch of southern California coastline.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cliffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliffs. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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