rift valley

noun

Definition of rift valleynext
as in canyon

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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 valley The rift valleys of East Africa are some of the largest and most spectacular topographic features on Earth. — David Bressan, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025 There is a rift valley on the Rio Grande in the desert of New Mexico where an award-winning home sits. — Jennifer Castenson, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 Rather than having a central volcano, the Reykjanes Peninsula is dominated by a rift valley with lava fields and cones. — Alexandra Banner, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 Valles Marineris is thought to be a rift valley, formed by uplift when hot material from the Mars's mantle bubbled up and stretched the planet's crust. — Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2010 See All Example Sentences for rift valley
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rift valley
  1. canyon
  2. gorge
  3. gulch
  4. valley
  5. ravine
  6. gully
  7. depression
  8. glen
Noun
  • The Cherry Creek Arch Bridge carries State Highway 83 through the canyon, linking communities from Parker to Colorado Springs.
    — Karen Leigh, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Propelled by strong winds and low humidity, the flames quickly spread over foothills and through canyons.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of canyon
Noun
  • The outdoorsy traveler hiking the gorges in Crete or the trails in Andros should bring a pair of sturdy shoes, a hat for sun protection, and tons of SPF.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 27 July 2026
  • The results highlight just how broad America's autumn appeal has become, stretching from classic New England escapes to Rocky Mountain landscapes and Pacific Northwest river gorges.
    — Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of gorge
Noun
  • Plastic waste flutters and settles into gulches, catches in the fencing.
    — Cristina Dorador, The Dial, 14 July 2026
  • Head right, and there came public land, the Shasta-Trinity National Forest with its creeks and gulches and two-bit towns like Peanut and Beegum.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
Definition of gulch
Noun
  • Smoke is expected to blow into the North Bay valleys Friday, peaking in the afternoon and evening hours.
    — Tim Fang, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • The formations, known as polygonal fractures, were spotted as the rover explored a valley called Valle Grande, according to a news release by NASA.
    — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Definition of valley
Noun
  • Both vehicles went into a nearby ravine and the tree line, a police report said.
    — Emily Harter, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • On the steel side, Phantom’s Revenge turns 25, still dropping riders 232 feet into the ravine at speeds around 85 mph and earning national attention as a USA TODAY 10Best‑nominated coaster.
    — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 22 July 2026
Definition of ravine
Noun
  • Sarah’s partner Elijah, Karissa and I continued up into the mountains, scrambling over loose rocks to get closer to a gully carved into the side of a mountain towering behind the pools.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026
  • The dark form of the bear was rounding the ridges and gullies, appearing and disappearing among the brush in the direction of the head of the canyon.
    — Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 15 July 2026
Definition of gully
Noun
  • Why More Men Are Turning to TRT Symptoms of low testosterone often get misread as depression, stress or ordinary aging.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
  • Studies show social media raises children’s risk of depression and behavioral problems.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 30 July 2026
Definition of depression
Noun
  • The series will follow a local estate owner, the Laird of Castle Drummoch (Branagh), who challenges the ambitions of an American billionaire intent on buying up large swaths of the glens.
    — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026
  • Set in the modern Scottish Highlands, Laird is an epic family saga in which a proud Scot defies a shadowy American billionaire hellbent on buying up the glens.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 July 2026
Definition of glen

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rift valleys
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Cite this Entry

“Rift valley.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rift%20valley. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rift valley

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rift valley

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