1
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as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge)
it was possible to peek through the rift in the fence and see the ball game
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in to rupture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rift
Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
The Israeli leader’s remarks pointed to a potentially widening rift with Trump, who had expressed hope that Monday’s release of Israeli American soldier Edan Alexander would be a step toward ending the 19-month war.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022
The police, unsurprisingly, started to fire tear gas canisters again, trying to rift and wedge the fleeing protesters.
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 28 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for rift
Noun
Real Madrid star Rodrygo doesn’t want to play for the club again and asked not to do so against bitter rival FC Barcelona in El Clasico at the weekend amid a rift with some of his teammates according to Radio MARCA, which cited anonymous sources.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
The Israeli leader’s remarks pointed to a potentially widening rift with Trump, who had expressed hope that Monday’s release of Israeli American soldier Edan Alexander would be a step toward ending the 19-month war.
—Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2025
Verb
However, the supercontinent began to rift and splinter in the late Triassic about 230 million years ago.
—Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022
The police, unsurprisingly, started to fire tear gas canisters again, trying to rift and wedge the fleeing protesters.
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 28 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for rift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rift
Noun
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But his return to center stage—or at least his self-invitation to it—is showing the fissures in a party that hasn’t fully decided if Biden is friend or foe, the party elder who stepped aside or the has-been who didn’t know when to exit.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
8 May 2025
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This case exposes a wide fissure in the foundation.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
2 May 2025
Noun
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The fifth was disengaging into the secondary gap, the opposite direction.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
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According to the official, who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity, Iran evaluates the talks’ interruptions and weekly gaps, which were against Tehran’s preference, as a political and media game by the American side and is now preparing for scenarios in which the talks fail.—
Frederik Pleitgen,
CNN Money,
10 May 2025
Verb
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Then Boston frittered away a 14-point advantage in Game 4, when Jayson Tatum ruptured his right Achilles during a last-gasp attempt.—
Sam Settleman,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
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With Jayson Tatum lost for the rest of the playoffs and beyond after rupturing his Achilles tendon two nights earlier, White carried the scoring load for the Celtics, racking up 34 points on 9-of-16 shooting to help power Boston to a 129-102 victory in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
15 May 2025
Noun
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The vacuum also comes with a crevice tool to target curtains, upholstery, and more.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
22 May 2025
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These included an extension wand and crevice tool, wide standard head, smaller upholstery tool, dusting brush, battery, charger, and mount.—
Stewart Savin,
Architectural Digest,
20 May 2025
Noun
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Private contractors under the supervision of St. Paul Public Works will spend up to two months repairing the man-sized sink hole that opened on the evening of May 8, forcing ongoing partial road closures between Chestnut and Walnut streets.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
13 May 2025
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The screws may loosen and allow engine oil to leak from the screw holes, according to the recall report.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Brubaker fractured his ribs in spring training, and other injuries, including Tommy John surgery, have kept him out of the majors since 2022.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
18 May 2025
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When a parent abuses a child, the experience can be too horrible to bear, so that what happens is that the core of the child’s identity gets fractured.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
16 May 2025
Verb
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Photos show damage after storms tear through Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia Contributing: Jeanine Santucci, Zac Anderson; USA TODAY Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
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The Context The outbreak in Kansas follows a devastating storm system that tore through parts of the U.S. over the weekend, resulting in at least 25 fatalities, CNN reported.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Dallas keeps bringing up last year’s six-game win over Colorado in an apparent effort to buck up themselves and their despondent fans, who are rending their garments over a meaningless seven-game losing streak to end the season.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
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The Seagull The season’s starriest show is Chekhov’s rending play about art, love and loss in a new version from Duncan Macmillan and Thomas Ostermeier, with Ostermeier directing.—
Matt Wolf,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rift. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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