plateau 1 of 2

noun

pla-ˈtō How to pronounce plateau (audio)
Definition of plateaunext
as in mesa
a broad flat area of elevated land Native Americans have inhabited the plateau for centuries

Synonyms & Similar Words

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plateau

2 of 2

verb

as in to stabilize

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Dissimilar Words

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 plateau
Noun
The rift between the Antarctic and Australian plates runs right through the middle of this plateau. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026 Then the track left the valley and started winding up to a high, dry plateau. — Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 8 July 2026
Verb
In a new energy market outlook projecting out to 2050, BNEF analysts forecast global oil demand will plateau in the early 2030s while natural gas demand surges well into mid-century. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 19 May 2026 While those numbers may plateau or slightly decline this year, the overall trend points upward. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for plateau
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plateau
  1. mesa
  2. stabilize
  3. highland
  4. tableland
  5. altiplano
Noun
  • From coast to coast, the United States is dotted with sweeping coastal vistas, sparkling lakes, verdant national parks, towering mountains, majestic mesas and countless scenic roads that connect east to west and north to south.
    — Rebecca R. Norris, USA Today, 22 July 2026
  • Beginning in the late 1960s, artists abandoned galleries in favour of deserts, salt flats, mesas, and remote terrain, using these surroundings as both setting and material.
    — Lara Johnson-Wheeler, Vogue, 3 July 2026
Definition of mesa
Verb
  • This presents a vital opportunity for brands to secure supply, stabilize costs, and mitigate geopolitical risks through circular supply chains.
    — Rob Kaplan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The state budget, approved in June, imposed the across-the-board limit for the next three years in a bid to stabilize state revenues.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of stabilize
Noun
  • As colonial administrators and missionaries had penetrated the highlands, the practice of cannibalism had ended and kuru had begun to recede.
    — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Popular expat retirement venues include the capital, Panama City; Boquete, a town in the highlands with a somewhat cooler climate; Coronado on the Pacific Coast; and the inland city of David.
    — William P. Barrett, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of highland
Noun
  • Only a depression in the ground remains at the Ingalls Dugout Site, but eagle-eyed visitors can still spot the spring, tablelands, thickets of plum trees, and other landmarksr described in the book of the same name.
    — Alicia Underlee Nelson, Midwest Living, 22 June 2026
  • Pedro Cervantes painted jewellike vistas of New Mexico’s tablelands.
    — John P. Murphy, ARTnews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of tableland
Noun
  • Built in the late 19 th century to transport the altiplano’s abundant metals and minerals, the railway line once ran from Bolivia’s de facto capital La Paz to the Pacific port of Antofagasta in Chile.
    — The Editors, Outside, 31 Aug. 2025
  • Tiwanaku communities first emerged in an altiplano, or high plain, of the Andes called the Titicaca Basin, named after Lake Titicaca.
    — Gina Park, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2025
Definition of altiplano

Browse Nearby Words

plate
plateau
plateaued
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Cite this Entry

“Plateau.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plateau. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on plateau

Nglish: Translation of plateau for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plateau

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