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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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rift
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
Virginie Berger, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
None of the cast members have publicly addressed the apparent rift.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rift
Noun
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
Verb
The result is a growing rift: European regulators are codifying consent and auditability, while U.S. policy is shifting toward looser oversight and broader carve-outs, leaving creators with even less leverage.
—Virginie Berger, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
None of the cast members have publicly addressed the apparent rift.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rift
Noun
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These magma-spewing mounds are responsible for 80 percent of the country’s seismic activity, including glowing fissures that splinter the landscape for up to 2 miles.—
Robin Catalano,
Robb Report,
7 Aug. 2025
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The measures eventually passed after internal Democratic fissures led to enough representatives returning to form a quorum.—
Rachael Dziaba,
ABC News,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Yet regardless of the device or price point, a gap remains in the investment that most companies are making in technology to support remote work for their rank-and-file employees.—
Melody Brue,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Frank often asks one of his centre-backs to push ahead of the other, which could leave gaps for top opposition to exploit, but Spurs have the athleticism to make up for it in Romero, Van de Ven, and Kevin Danso.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The video comes from a CCTV security camera recording along the trace of Myanmar’s Sagaing Fault, which ruptured in a magnitude 7.7 earthquake.—
David Bressan,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
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Batteries exposed to high temperatures can rupture and leak.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
25 July 2025
Noun
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The roomy dustbin didn’t need constant emptying, and the crevice tool came in clutch for picking up crumbs between couch cushions and from the tight corners of car seats.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Aphonopelma Chiricahua: Named after the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona, this large, black-bodied species dwells in crevices and rocky burrows.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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With just 18 holes remaining, Ludvig Aberg and Harry Hall round out the top five at 8-under.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Aug. 2025
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One Netherlands international, according to the police, allowed his Porsche to be used by criminals and the car ended up riddled with bullet holes.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The strong, close relationship built on trust is fracturing rapidly.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Aug. 2025
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Yet the Rescue Mission’s relationship with the city appears to have fractured, at least in part, over questions regarding who’s allowed inside.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The kids proceed to chase her through town before mercilessly tearing her apart.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
8 Aug. 2025
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If Ennis moves up too quickly and has a bad outing against a top fighter at 154, fans and critics will not hesitate to tear him apart.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 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 21 Aug. 2025.
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