1
as in fissures
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 gaps
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
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 rifts
Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
Now that is her son’s task in his first visit to the former colonies since he was crowned, arriving amid rifts over the war in Iran and the future of NATO.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
Trump appears to have re-focused on the Danish autonomous territory while venting frustration at NATO, as the diplomatic fallout from the Iran war exposes rifts in Washington's ties with the security alliance.
—Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
Their contrasting positions mirror growing rifts within the Republican Party over whether military action against Iran is justified and appropriate.
—Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The carbon released by tectonic rifts may have had a larger role in driving major climate transitions than that released by tectonic convergences.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
There are other headwinds preventing successful AI deployments, namely distrust of the technology and fear of worker replacement, causing rifts between front-line employees and management.
—Scott Francis, Forbes.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Within the locker room, the disagreements over initial vote left rifts.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Some creators and observers say the disproportionate influence of voices outside of Iran has exacerbated deep rifts in the diaspora, which includes about 750,000 people in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
The deeper the rifts between the United States and Europe over Iran, the greater the chances of weakening the NATO alliance.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2026
Now that is her son’s task in his first visit to the former colonies since he was crowned, arriving amid rifts over the war in Iran and the future of NATO.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
Trump appears to have re-focused on the Danish autonomous territory while venting frustration at NATO, as the diplomatic fallout from the Iran war exposes rifts in Washington's ties with the security alliance.
—Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
Their contrasting positions mirror growing rifts within the Republican Party over whether military action against Iran is justified and appropriate.
—Michelle L. Price, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
The carbon released by tectonic rifts may have had a larger role in driving major climate transitions than that released by tectonic convergences.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
There are other headwinds preventing successful AI deployments, namely distrust of the technology and fear of worker replacement, causing rifts between front-line employees and management.
—Scott Francis, Forbes.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Within the locker room, the disagreements over initial vote left rifts.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
Some creators and observers say the disproportionate influence of voices outside of Iran has exacerbated deep rifts in the diaspora, which includes about 750,000 people in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rifts
Noun
-
Once in San Diego, the gears switch back to the fissures in the domestic relationships, specifically Danny and Nia.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
-
Eyes on the primary runoff The Democratic race doesn't feature notable policy splits along the lines of the progressive-moderate fissures that have opened around the country.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At smaller hospitals like Winona Health, those savings can fill gaps left by Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements, which often don’t cover the full cost of providing that care.—
Dené K. Dryden,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
-
To close persistent gender gaps in nursing, leaders must invest in accessible funding for nurses’ education, expand outreach to men, and amplify men working in nursing as mentors to future applicants.—
Nicholas A. Giordano,
STAT,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Asking them to leapfrog to low-carbon pathways while denying them finance, technology, and infrastructure undermines trust and fractures global cooperation—the very cooperation climate action depends on.—
Damilola Ogunbiyi,
Time,
19 Mar. 2026
-
South America fractures into a puzzle of fjords and channels at the southernmost tip of the continent, the Brunswick Peninsula, in Chile’s Magallanes Region, where the future park will protect temperate rainforests, shrublands, and vast carbon-capturing peat bogs.—
Mark Johanson,
Outside,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
An old toothbrush can be handy for cleaning out smaller crevices.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Seal any cracks and crevices with caulk.—
Kate Van Pelt,
The Spruce,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That alone changes the math — his cardio dropoff against Strickland was directly tied to the weight cut, and removing that variable fixes one of the only real holes in his game.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
Bullet holes could be seen in the back door of one of the homes.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The heat ruptures the cell walls in the leaves, causing desiccation and ultimately killing the weed.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Apr. 2026
-
If the plaque within one of the coronary arteries suddenly ruptures, a blood clot forms on its surface.—
Colleen Doherty,
Verywell Health,
28 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The current moment tears the Band-Aid off this old conflict and the complex system underneath.—
Caroline Wagner,
The Conversation,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Drink, drugs and sometimes tears.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The front lid appears to be barely hanging on by a thread, with cuts and gashes throughout.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Heupel spreads out his receivers in an attempt to spread out the defense, then gashes them with the run.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rifts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rifts. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
