rift 1 of 2

noun

ˈrift How to pronounce rift (audio)
Definition of riftnext
1
as in fissure
an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure a small rift opened in the earth's crust

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
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

rift

2 of 2

verb

as in to rupture

Related Words

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 rift
Noun
The deepening rift comes as da Silva, a leftist, runs for a fourth term. — Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 14 Aug. 2026 The rift started when Cumming was looking into a program under the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE). — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
Rami and Shirley can’t agree on what to do with the baby, which begins to rift their relationships. — Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Sep. 2024 However, the supercontinent began to rift and splinter in the late Triassic about 230 million years ago. — Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022 See All Example Sentences for rift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rift
  1. fissure
  2. gap
  3. rupture
  4. crevice
  5. hole
  6. fracture
  7. tear
  8. rend
Noun
  • The pitched and often emotional vote over Proposition 40 exposed deep fissures in the state party over how to respond to growing grassroots anger over wealth inequality.
    — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Another fissure appeared, slicing a haphazard path through its pale-blue heart.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 July 2026
Definition of fissure
Noun
  • The gaps are especially consequential in Nizi, one of the most affected health zones in Ituri province, which accounts for about 90% of Congo’s Ebola cases and 80% of its deaths.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Fernandes has never been finished, but there’s a size gap here and Turner is dangerous offensively.
    — Brett Appley, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of gap
Verb
  • Dodgers Tommy John, who ruptured a ligament in his left elbow in 1974, agreed to a then-radical surgery that revived his career and changed baseball.
    — Michael Kupper, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Watson hasn't appeared in an NFL game since rupturing his Achilles in October 2024.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of rupture
Noun
  • However, the way those handles are attached to the cooking pot also create a few more crevices for moisture and reside to hide.
    — Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The baby falcons hatched in early May after their falcon parents, Vixen and Dave, nested in a crevice on the second floor of the exterior of Aurora City Hall.
    — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of crevice
Noun
  • Place them behind the refrigerator and stove, under kitchen and bathroom sinks near pipe entry holes, and in the back corners of pantry shelves.
    — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 16 Aug. 2026
  • While the district took a series of cost-cutting steps — including freezing spending on supplies, hiring and most new contracts, as well as laying off employees — successive budget updates showed the financial hole continuing to deepen.
    — Chaewon Chung August 16, Sacbee.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of hole
Verb
  • As each character assigns the snow’s meaning according to their needs, the village begins to fracture.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Margaret Shragal, Allen said, fractured her hip in a fall and was transported by air ambulance to a local hospital for surgery, but that surgery was delayed three days because of the widespread power outages.
    — Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of fracture
Verb
  • The Lakers made the playoffs in 2013 but were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round, just weeks after Kobe Bryant suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon tear.
    — Law Murray, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The ScanMax 320 automatically flattens curved book pages digitally, ensuring clean, flat text without requiring you to tear pages out or manually edit them.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of tear
Verb
  • The German priest’s criticisms of the Catholic Church sparked the Protestant Reformation, rending Christianity in two.
    — Michael Bruening, The Conversation, 30 June 2026
  • The excellent Julian Quinones’ early goal settled any nerves and then came the emotive, heart-rending second from talisman Raul Jimenez in the second half.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Definition of rend

Browse Nearby Words

rifling
rift
rifted
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rift. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on rift

Nglish: Translation of rift for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rift

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of balmy

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All