1
2
as in canyons
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage
try to get through the notch before the storm blows in
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in steps
an individual part of a process, series, or ranking
sales for the album increased, and it moved up another notch on the music charts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of notches
Alison Syrett Cleary, Glamour, 14 Oct. 2025
One of the easiest ways to distinguish a tree of heaven from look-a-likes are the small notches, or teeth, found at the base of each leaf.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 24 Sep. 2025
Ultraviolette's taken things up a few notches this time around, by adding a 77-GHz rear radar with a large tracking cone to spot other vehicles coming at you within a 650-ft (200-m) range.
—New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2025
The sideways trading in Bitcoin comes as gold, the precious metal the original cryptoasset is often compared with, notches near-daily records.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
Each inexplicably takes two notches off Hornet’s health (which starts at six max).
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
These tools are thin, flimsy, and built with barbed notches on the side that are used to grabbing hair and break through soap scum or other debris to remove them from your drain.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
Few love it as much when leveling the playing field means bumping them down a few notches.
—John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Down 1-0 at halftime, the Meteors turned it up a few notches after the break.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
The best puffer jackets for women won’t just keep you warm—they’ll also take all your cold-weather outfits up a few notches.
—Alison Syrett Cleary, Glamour, 14 Oct. 2025
One of the easiest ways to distinguish a tree of heaven from look-a-likes are the small notches, or teeth, found at the base of each leaf.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 24 Sep. 2025
Ultraviolette's taken things up a few notches this time around, by adding a 77-GHz rear radar with a large tracking cone to spot other vehicles coming at you within a 650-ft (200-m) range.
—New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2025
The sideways trading in Bitcoin comes as gold, the precious metal the original cryptoasset is often compared with, notches near-daily records.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
Each inexplicably takes two notches off Hornet’s health (which starts at six max).
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
These tools are thin, flimsy, and built with barbed notches on the side that are used to grabbing hair and break through soap scum or other debris to remove them from your drain.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
Few love it as much when leveling the playing field means bumping them down a few notches.
—John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Down 1-0 at halftime, the Meteors turned it up a few notches after the break.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for notches
Noun
-
Oracle will use 50,000 of AMD’s Instinct MI450 chips beginning in the second half of 2026, in a sign that companies are turning to Nvidia’s competitors for their processing needs.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Tech companies are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on data centers and AI computer chips.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Flash flooding will be particular concern in burn scars, slot canyons and urban areas, according to the weather service.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
-
That means the night skies in and around Capitol Reef are especially protected from star-obscuring light, so this playground of cliffs, arches, and canyons has some of the best stargazing in the country.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Al-Sudani, who rose to power after that upheaval, insisted his government had taken tangible steps to restore public trust, such as economic progress and political stability.—
Emma Graham,
CNBC,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Nestled along a private stretch of creek, the hotel feels secluded and tranquil but is also steps away from the heart of town.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But on this Royal Oak afternoon teeming with adventurous jazz grooves, Was is happily nestled in his roots.—
Brian McCollum,
Freep.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Using sharp paring knife, cut four 1 1/2-inch long slits in top of dough (think of a clock for slit placement at 12,3,6,9 positions).—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Its large leaves develop holes and slits that have earned it the name Swiss cheese plant.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Michael Anderson, executive director of the Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance, said with results from Senjem in hand, landowners will be able to take action to stop sediment from ravines on their properties.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Every year in the early fall, along the riverbanks and ravines of the Southeast coast, pawpaws begin to show up in the understory.—
Stephanie Ganz,
Southern Living,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Pittsburgh had raced out into a 10-0 lead midway through the second quarter but 20 straight points from the Bengals put them on top at Paycor Stadium.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Each restaurant in Jefferson County is scored out of a possible 100 points.—
Gege Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Apart from the gorges and cliffs, the area features beautiful waterfalls and rock shelters.—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The Gates of Lodore trip, as it’s known, will cover 44 miles through three dramatic gorges—Lodore, Whirlpool, and Split Mountain—and two dozen mostly mild rapids in this remote, geologic wonderland along the Colorado-Utah border.—
John Briley,
Outside,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Notches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/notches. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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