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
Miriam Kirmayer, SELF, 1 Oct. 2025
The Duke of Sussex and his father have been estranged in recent years amid a series of family rifts, along with a legal battle over the removal of security for Harry, his wife Meghan and their children.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
The primary setting is a classroom at a progressive private school in Berkeley, unfolding almost entirely in a series of board meetings where disagreements over how to handle a mumps outbreak expose deep and eventually quite angry rifts among the parents, on and off the board.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
Despite their rifts, the permanent members of the Security Council still agree on a wide range of subjects from aid operations to sanctioning jihadists.
—Richard Gowan, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
This will only harm students’ ability to think critically and create rifts between them.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 21 Sep. 2025
Rather than refrain from taking sides when great powers disagree, the country has sought to capitalize on opportunities presented by geopolitical rifts to advance its principles.
—Michelle Gavin, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2025
But intraparty rifts could complicate GOP leadership’s math if the lower chamber moves forward with plans to vote on the evolving legislation, which Republican critics note would keep funding mostly at levels hashed out under the Biden administration.
—Aris Folley, The Hill, 16 Sep. 2025
Later level and Ankou rifts (secret battle stages) require adept knowledge of the game’s overlapping combat systems.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Perhaps this is leading to relationship difficulties and highlighting potential rifts in other friendships?
—Miriam Kirmayer, SELF, 1 Oct. 2025
The Duke of Sussex and his father have been estranged in recent years amid a series of family rifts, along with a legal battle over the removal of security for Harry, his wife Meghan and their children.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
The primary setting is a classroom at a progressive private school in Berkeley, unfolding almost entirely in a series of board meetings where disagreements over how to handle a mumps outbreak expose deep and eventually quite angry rifts among the parents, on and off the board.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
Despite their rifts, the permanent members of the Security Council still agree on a wide range of subjects from aid operations to sanctioning jihadists.
—Richard Gowan, Time, 22 Sep. 2025
This will only harm students’ ability to think critically and create rifts between them.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 21 Sep. 2025
Rather than refrain from taking sides when great powers disagree, the country has sought to capitalize on opportunities presented by geopolitical rifts to advance its principles.
—Michelle Gavin, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2025
But intraparty rifts could complicate GOP leadership’s math if the lower chamber moves forward with plans to vote on the evolving legislation, which Republican critics note would keep funding mostly at levels hashed out under the Biden administration.
—Aris Folley, The Hill, 16 Sep. 2025
Later level and Ankou rifts (secret battle stages) require adept knowledge of the game’s overlapping combat systems.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rifts
Noun
-
Over the first three weeks, the 49ers somehow maintained their balance as cracks and fissures formed all over their lineup.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Rocks have tiny fissures into which water can seep; when the temperature drops, the water expands into ice, exerting pressure and widening the cracks.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Recently, both the qualifying and race pace gaps have been trending down, and Hamilton is looking much more comfortable at the team.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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With a constellation of eyes in the sky, forecasters could suddenly monitor conditions over oceans and remote landmasses, filling in major gaps in their models and providing an early warning system about potential storms forming far away.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While a tiny fraction of the quake’s energy (less than 1%) fractures rocks, up to 80% of it is transformed into heat.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Sep. 2025
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If the community fractures over which path to take, and no consensus emerges, adoption may be stalled.—
Korok Ray,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Her voice, still more often than not, slides with ease into the cracks and crevices that kick drums and deep grooves open in neotraditional-style country compositions.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Use a microfiber or soft cloth to wipe the seals with soapy water, making sure to get into any crevices.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Another tool combines a Phillips and flathead screwdriver (via a flippable bit), a tungsten steel automotive glass-breaking stud, a nail puller, a rope cutter, plus 5- and 7-mm hex wrench holes.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 Sep. 2025
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But the unexpected interloper turns out not to be the last of the heist’s hiccups when new team recruit Zen (Rosa Salazar) plugs Parker’s crew full of bullet holes and makes off with the rest of the cash.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Achilles tears that the Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers suffered during the 2025 playoffs have made the race for the conference wide open this coming season.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
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In this kind of system, scientists theorize that the black hole tears the neutron star apart before swallowing it, which releases electromagnetic waves.—
Chad Hanna,
The Conversation,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
-
The pictures show scars and gashes around the dog's snout.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Advertisement Never one to give up, Arisu rips a piece of the grid room’s floor from its moorings and uses it to smash into the screen wall separating him from the outside.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
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Schumer rips Trump on a near-daily basis on the Senate floor, accusing the president of being a wannabe dictator and serial liar who puts his own interests and even Russian President Vladimir Putin’s interests ahead of what’s best for the United States.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rifts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rifts. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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