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
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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
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Recent Examples of rifts
Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
The breastfeeding billing battle UnitedHealthcare is cutting back on paying for lactation counseling, and the clinicians who provide those services are up in arms, another example of the deepening rifts between providers and insurers.
—Bob Herman, STAT, 8 June 2026
And whatever rifts had formed in his relationship with Altman were largely absent from social media.
—Ashley Capoot,lora Kolodny, CNBC, 18 May 2026
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
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
Noun
The shock departure deepens Starmer’s political woes, exposing cabinet rifts with the Treasury over defense priorities and fueling Labour unrest and speculation that his grip on power is slipping.
—Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
The breastfeeding billing battle UnitedHealthcare is cutting back on paying for lactation counseling, and the clinicians who provide those services are up in arms, another example of the deepening rifts between providers and insurers.
—Bob Herman, STAT, 8 June 2026
And whatever rifts had formed in his relationship with Altman were largely absent from social media.
—Ashley Capoot,lora Kolodny, CNBC, 18 May 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rifts
Noun
-
Some of these fissures are healing, but the relationship between Wilson and the organization, including key former teammates, is not helping his candidacy.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
Seismic images of mid-ocean ridges typically show rough and jagged terrain, formed when lava oozes up into the cold ocean along faults or fissures and hardens suddenly into stone.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
The audit reviewed 14 shelters that hosted 8,885 stays and identified gaps in how the city collects data and measures success.—
Ruyuan Li. Summary produced by AI assistance,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
-
Denim manufacturer Artistic Milliners is helping to fill in these gaps.—
SJ Studio,
Footwear News,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Over one tense weekend, old patterns and buried wounds surface in front of in-laws and guests, until the celebration fractures into a collision.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
-
And Mary’s electric, palpably physical pursuit of justice becomes even more crucial in the final act, after a grotesque display of performative mockery toward Māori culture fractures the last remnants of civility present amid one of Cole’s lavish-yet-repulsive gatherings.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Thyme can survive in small crevices.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 June 2026
-
Chemical warfare might be needed to control a serious invasion, but sealing off cracks and crevices that lead into your home, clearing debris and leaves from around your home, and keeping your lawn mowed will help.—
Joan Morris,
Mercury News,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
That can leave known security holes sitting open.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
-
As the underground limestone dissolves, cracks and holes are created, which eventually cause the ground above to collapse.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The boiling water creates intense thermal shock that instantly ruptures the plant's cell walls, melting its protective waxy coating and causing the foliage to collapse and dehydrate, effectively cooking the plant tissue.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 June 2026
-
The heat ruptures the cell walls in the leaves, causing desiccation and ultimately killing the weed.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Peppler tears big chunks of it off and passes it around for everyone to try, before illustrating the culinary importance of a good pissaladière.—
Jennifer Leigh Parker,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
When a battery dies, the industry routinely tears it apart to access the parts that matter.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
10 June 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 18 Jun. 2026.
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