as in road
a route that has many sharp turns for climbing a steep hill
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Recent Examples of switchback
The switchbacks, the drop-offs, the narrow curves … the carsickness.
Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon was under construction at the time, so the best way to get to town was often along U.S. Route 285 through Fairplay to Buena Vista, and then north to Twin Lakes.
—
Jonathan Shikes, Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2025
Like all American industries, Hollywood has seen a switchback on the pushes for diversity and inclusion that began in 2020.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
Havasupai Falls Another challenge seen as an alternative to a rim-to-rim hike is the trek to Havasupai Falls, a difficult 20-mile round-trip hike that begins and ends with switchbacks that change in elevation by 1,800 feet.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 25 July 2025
More adventurous hikers can descend into the crater on the 8.1-mile Syncline Loop, which is considered the hardest hike in the district due to steep switchbacks and boulder scrambling.
—Mike Bezemek, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for switchback
Jonathan Shikes, Denver Post, 8 Sep. 2025
Like all American industries, Hollywood has seen a switchback on the pushes for diversity and inclusion that began in 2020.
—Selome Hailu, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
Havasupai Falls Another challenge seen as an alternative to a rim-to-rim hike is the trek to Havasupai Falls, a difficult 20-mile round-trip hike that begins and ends with switchbacks that change in elevation by 1,800 feet.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 25 July 2025
More adventurous hikers can descend into the crater on the 8.1-mile Syncline Loop, which is considered the hardest hike in the district due to steep switchbacks and boulder scrambling.
—Mike Bezemek, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for switchback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switchback
Noun
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His hobbies include reading, listening to music and going on long, winding adventures on his road bike.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Oct. 2025
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Winding roads eventually lead to Hotel Corazón, a former finca — a country estate — growing produce on its cantilevered farmland that has been transformed by two expat artists into a boho chic retreat.—
Emilio Parra Doiztua,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
18 Oct. 2025
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The project will include a massive new 10-lane bridge over the highway at Interstate 77 exit 36.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The collision is being investigated as the city’s 29th roadway death of the year, and the 14th to involve a pedestrian who died.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
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Ultimately, the council unanimously decided to continue exploring the city’s options, plus look into the cost of placing lighting within the roadway pavement to alert night-time drivers about the approaching roundabout.—
Barbara Henry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Hatton’s funeral took place in Hyde last Friday, with thousands lining the streets and former boxers Tyson Fury, Tony Bellew, Frank Bruno and Amir Khan among those in attendance.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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In Stomp the Yard, Columbus Short stars as DJ Williams, a gifted street dancer who enrolls at a fictional HBCU to start fresh after personal tragedy.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In May, the vehicle lost power on the freeway and has been in the shop ever since.—
Liam Rappleye,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
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Arriving at freeway speeds is surprisingly quick considering the vehicle’s size and its nearly 6,000-pound gross weight.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Yards Plaza lot is off the major thoroughfare of 47th Street near schools and a Home Depot.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
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How to Get There Visitors arriving by car will find the village conveniently located near major thoroughfares such as I-287 and the Saw Mill River Parkway.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In her lyrics, Swift nods to the road Gallatin Pike, a turnpike for commercial traffic that stretches from East Nashville up through Hendersonville.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
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Shakur, whose legal name is Joanne Deborah Byron, was convicted in 1977 of killing a state trooper in a shootout on the New Jersey turnpike four years prior.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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On the morning of Islam’s funeral, the streets of Parkchester, a neighborhood of brick row houses and big-box stores, were blocked off on both sides of the expressway.—
Eric Lach,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
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The upper deck is designed to carry a six-lane expressway, while the lower deck will accommodate a two-track high-speed railway and two metro tracks.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Switchback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switchback. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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