as in canyon
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage
a remote col in the Alps
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of col
The French Alps Why: Conquering the storied HC (hors catégorie) climbs and cols of the French Alps provides the ultimate cycling bragging rights.
—
Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 13 May 2025
The sky was just getting light as the group put on their skis and headed for the Cabane des Vignettes—another alpine refuge, about six hours away, across high-alpine terrain filled with glaciers, cols, peaks, and magnificent slopes of unbroken snow.
—Outside, 20 Sep. 2024
The highest point of the trail is at 3,008 feet, on a viewless col (the lowest point between peaks) off of Blue Mountain.
—Jessica McKenzie, National Geographic, 16 Nov. 2020
Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 13 May 2025
The sky was just getting light as the group put on their skis and headed for the Cabane des Vignettes—another alpine refuge, about six hours away, across high-alpine terrain filled with glaciers, cols, peaks, and magnificent slopes of unbroken snow.
—Outside, 20 Sep. 2024
The highest point of the trail is at 3,008 feet, on a viewless col (the lowest point between peaks) off of Blue Mountain.
—Jessica McKenzie, National Geographic, 16 Nov. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for col
Noun
-
Wind prone canyons along US-395 may exceed 65 mph.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The historic Grant Grove Cabins and Cedar Grove Lodge, located deep in the canyon, are also solid options.—
Karthika Gupta,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Her remains were discovered in a ravine in White House, Tennessee, several months later.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Sapporo's residents are no less obsessed with onsen culture than other Japanese, as Elijah and I discovered during an overnight trip to Jozankei, which straddles a scenic ravine over the Toyohira River near Shikotsu-Tōya National Park, a 45-minute drive from central Sapporo.—
Alex Halberstadt,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In less than an hour, the scenery changes from beach to river gorge to mountain terrain, showing a side of Dalmatia beyond the islands.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The gorge acts as a natural channel funneling through rain runoff often creating an intriguing mix of wildflowers.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That spreads out the water over the whole valley bottom, versus just in a pond.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2026
-
On our flight back, the pilot has some fun, swooping through valleys and banking sharply around crests.—
Brent Rose,
Outside,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Col.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/col. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
