as in canyon
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage
at one point the steep, ice-encrusted walls of the couloir are no more than 50 feet apart
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of couloir
For expert skiers, Arapahoe Basin’s East Wall is an irresistible swath of terrain riven by steep chutes and couloirs, all of it requiring hiking to access.
—
John Meyer, Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2026
Be sure to tick off the Supreme Bowl— packed with tight, fast couloirs—when conditions permit.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Feb. 2026
Each year, the fearless freeriders huck themself off the resort’s infamous couloir during the King’s and Queen’s of Corbet’s event (February 8-15, 2026).
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 20 Dec. 2025
Many of these ski lines are clustered in the same drainages, but while in years past Noyes has been able to complete multiple descents in a day, this year, the hot April sun shortened the windows during which those couloirs would be safe from wet avalanches.
—Jake Stern, Outside Online, 25 Apr. 2025
For more than eight hours, rescuers worked to reach the hikers and lower them from the couloir.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 27 May 2024
John Meyer, Denver Post, 26 Feb. 2026
Be sure to tick off the Supreme Bowl— packed with tight, fast couloirs—when conditions permit.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Feb. 2026
Each year, the fearless freeriders huck themself off the resort’s infamous couloir during the King’s and Queen’s of Corbet’s event (February 8-15, 2026).
—Jen Murphy, Outside, 20 Dec. 2025
Many of these ski lines are clustered in the same drainages, but while in years past Noyes has been able to complete multiple descents in a day, this year, the hot April sun shortened the windows during which those couloirs would be safe from wet avalanches.
—Jake Stern, Outside Online, 25 Apr. 2025
For more than eight hours, rescuers worked to reach the hikers and lower them from the couloir.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 27 May 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for couloir
Noun
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Few journeys bring you as close to this breathtaking landscape as the Rocky Mountaineer, a train that threads through canyons, forests, and mountain passes.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
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The mile-deep canyon is 278 river miles long, and 18 miles across at its widest point.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Why not try and capture an image of the moon during each major phase (excluding the new moon) as the line separating night from day sweeps across the lunar surface throwing ancient craters, ravines and mountain ranges into relief.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
1 May 2026
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Due to the truck’s location by a ravine near the Sandy Sanders Wildlife Management Area, the recovery of the vehicle and body was reportedly delayed, initially stalling identification of the remains.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Noun
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The viewpoint was named in honor of the women who helped preserve the site in the mid-20th century and offers one of the gorge’s most iconic panoramas—a sweeping, unobstructed gaze across the river valley, with the crown-like Vista House perched on its promontory in the distance.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Apr. 2026
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The hunters turn up that night at her camping site overlooking a steep gorge and river, their van loaded with bleeding roo carcasses.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Couloir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/couloir. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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