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
The mid-century offered more literal interpretations of cave living, from The Flintstones (1960) to the villainous Bond lair, often hidden within or carved into cliffs.
—
Leonora Epstein, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2025
For the second time in two months, a body has been recovered from the base of the steep cliffs that line one of Southern California’s most affluent coastal communities.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Hundreds of cascades, some gentle and ribbon-like, others violent and towering, stretch across the cliffs where Argentina meets Brazil.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
For decades, the Algarve has been beloved for its endless sunny days and dramatic coastlines with its picturesque beaches, craggy cliffs, and hidden caves.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
Quanta visited Rovelli at his home overlooking the cliffs of Cassis.
—Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
There’s about to be a wonderful new way to visit the giant sequoias, waterfalls, two remaining glaciers, and dizzying granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome at Yosemite National Park.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 28 Oct. 2025
The 27-day shutdown’s effects are beginning to weigh on Congress — with more cliffs ahead for government benefits.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025
This sparsely populated region of Canada, where majestic cliffs plunge into orca- and iceberg-filled waters, remains remote and mysterious even more than 1,000 years after the Norse explorer Leif Erickson landed there.
—John Von Sothen, Air Mail, 25 Oct. 2025
Leonora Epstein, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2025
For the second time in two months, a body has been recovered from the base of the steep cliffs that line one of Southern California’s most affluent coastal communities.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Hundreds of cascades, some gentle and ribbon-like, others violent and towering, stretch across the cliffs where Argentina meets Brazil.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
For decades, the Algarve has been beloved for its endless sunny days and dramatic coastlines with its picturesque beaches, craggy cliffs, and hidden caves.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
Quanta visited Rovelli at his home overlooking the cliffs of Cassis.
—Zack Savitsky, Quanta Magazine, 29 Oct. 2025
There’s about to be a wonderful new way to visit the giant sequoias, waterfalls, two remaining glaciers, and dizzying granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome at Yosemite National Park.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 28 Oct. 2025
The 27-day shutdown’s effects are beginning to weigh on Congress — with more cliffs ahead for government benefits.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025
This sparsely populated region of Canada, where majestic cliffs plunge into orca- and iceberg-filled waters, remains remote and mysterious even more than 1,000 years after the Norse explorer Leif Erickson landed there.
—John Von Sothen, Air Mail, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliffs
Noun
-
This park is all escarpments, rivers, and old forests.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife dedicated a new pedestrian bridge on Thursday in Eldorado Canyon State Park, where steep sandstone cliffs and precipitous crags have lured expert rock climbers from around the world since the 1970s.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
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In the decades that followed, outdoor climbing was effectively reserved for those with ready access to crags and gear, who had ample time and energy to burn.—
Kelli María Korducki,
HubSpot,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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As in, rolling hills, limestone bluffs, and the largest remaining expanse of tallgrass prairie in North America.—
Erin Gifford,
Outside,
30 Oct. 2025
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Known for its brick red buildings, Hermann was established in 1837 by German immigrants, who thought the area's rugged river bluffs resembled the Rhine River valley.—
Erika Ebsworth-Goold,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cliffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliffs. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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