as in road
a route that has many sharp turns for climbing a steep hill
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Recent Examples of switchback
Travelers previously descended into the canyon along steep switchback roads prone to rockfalls or took long detours around the gorge, routes that added more than an hour to travel time.
—
Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Apr. 2026
The addition, which contains an atrium and a complex switchback stairway, seems to touch the older building at just one point.
—Fred A. Bernstein, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
Layers of different rock merge, sometimes sharply, as switchbacks cut through a sequence of geological history.
—Rebecca 'becca' Dyer, AZCentral.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Enter a ravine and follow gradual switchbacks to a small mesa at the top.
—Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for switchback
Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Apr. 2026
The addition, which contains an atrium and a complex switchback stairway, seems to touch the older building at just one point.
—Fred A. Bernstein, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
Layers of different rock merge, sometimes sharply, as switchbacks cut through a sequence of geological history.
—Rebecca 'becca' Dyer, AZCentral.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Enter a ravine and follow gradual switchbacks to a small mesa at the top.
—Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for switchback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switchback
Noun
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That’s the road in a banana republic to high or even hyperinflation.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The wildfires burning tens of thousands of acres in the South have destroyed homes, prompted evacuations and closed major roads.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Damm said more than 1,000 homes are currently under construction as well as a highway linking the city to Copenhagen, lying about 60 miles west.—
Anna Cooban,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
-
Here's what traffic is looking like today on Kansas 10 highway between Kansas City and Lawrence.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Several roadways in the immediate area were temporarily closed, but no evacuations were ordered, Kane said.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
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The strong currents from flash floods can pull drivers off roadways.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The water glimmers across the street.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
The response in communities nationwide has been swift, with groups such as the Tucson Rapid Response network organizing to monitor and track federal immigration action on the street.—
Carolina Cuellar,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
Noun
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The council also exempted from SB 79 areas that are close to a transit stop but violate the spirit of SB 79 because residents can’t walk to it easily because of barriers like canyons, freeways or a lack of sidewalks.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Two slow-moving cranes appeared, positioned on the freeway above.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Many District 8 commercial thoroughfares, for example, are ghost towns and need significant economic development.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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The hotel is a few minutes on foot from the port on Shiomachi Shotengai, which was once a major shipping thoroughfare, with 10,000 people passing through daily in its centuries-old heyday.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Officials with the port authority confirmed that an object was struck and that a delivery truck on the turnpike at the time also was damaged.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 May 2026
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The driver, Warren Boardley of Baltimore, was traveling northbound on the turnpike at the time of the incident.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
Noun
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These expressways would rapidly move large volumes of vehicles in and out of the central business district without using local roads.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
11 May 2026
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Homicide data from the Illinois State Police, which patrols the city’s expressways, also is not included here.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Switchback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switchback. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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