as in plains
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country
you can see for miles in every direction on the prairie
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of prairies
More is at stake than preserving the singular beauty of the sawgrass prairies of Everglades National Park or cypress swamps of the Big Cypress National Preserve.
—
Amy Green, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
There were no forests or prairies—land was largely dominated by slimy microbial mats.
—Taylor Mitchell Brown, Scientific American, 25 Nov. 2025
As these storms darkened the prairies, farmers and laborers alike sought refuge.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Hailing from the prairies of North America, this salvia is an end-of-the-season stunner that produces tall spikes of sky-blue flowers in late summer.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
In early spring of 2025, the prairies were once again dry, but timely rainfall in mid May recharged wetlands in portions of North Dakota, southeastern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
Still, the Cornhusker State quietly offers stunning wildflower experiences throughout the seasons—and fall is one of the best times to see its prairies' most stunning displays.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
The exhibit will feature fossils from the museum’s collection that show how ancient sea creatures once thrived where today’s prairies and towns stand, the release said.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
The spiders prefer undisturbed lands to nest, so the vast prairies on the Comanche National Grassland make ideal habitats, Visit La Junta says.
—Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Amy Green, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026
There were no forests or prairies—land was largely dominated by slimy microbial mats.
—Taylor Mitchell Brown, Scientific American, 25 Nov. 2025
As these storms darkened the prairies, farmers and laborers alike sought refuge.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Hailing from the prairies of North America, this salvia is an end-of-the-season stunner that produces tall spikes of sky-blue flowers in late summer.
—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
In early spring of 2025, the prairies were once again dry, but timely rainfall in mid May recharged wetlands in portions of North Dakota, southeastern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2025
Still, the Cornhusker State quietly offers stunning wildflower experiences throughout the seasons—and fall is one of the best times to see its prairies' most stunning displays.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
The exhibit will feature fossils from the museum’s collection that show how ancient sea creatures once thrived where today’s prairies and towns stand, the release said.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
The spiders prefer undisturbed lands to nest, so the vast prairies on the Comanche National Grassland make ideal habitats, Visit La Junta says.
—Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prairies
Noun
-
Capote set off for the high plains.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The coldest air arrives Friday night, with lows dropping into the low teens across the plains and urban corridor, and even colder readings expected in the foothills and mountain valleys.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Unlike Argentina’s open steppes, Chilean Patagonia hugs the Pacific coast and is carved by glacial valleys covered in with dense vegetation.—
Eric Sheets,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Dec. 2025
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The gene expression in the muscle tissue suggested a predominance of slow-twitch muscle fibers indicating the mammoth's muscles were built for stamina, ideal for long, steady travel across the cold, expansive steppes.—
Jay Kakade
December 03,
New Atlas,
3 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Barns offered the perfect warm, safe environment for such nests but as the farm industry modernized, farmers plowed over grasslands and replaced wooden barns with buildings made from sturdier materials.—
Karl Schneider,
IndyStar,
17 Dec. 2025
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Kentucky Camp sits amid the grasslands that cloak the eastern flanks of the Santa Rita Mountains northwest of Sonoita.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Serval cats roam savannahs and wetlands.—
Kaicey Baylor,
CBS News,
10 Dec. 2025
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According to the African Wildlife Foundation, serval cats are most commonly found on savannas and possess long necks and legs that enable them to see over tall grass.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
8 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Prairies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prairies. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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