as in escarpments
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice
the cliff rises 200 feet from the island's south shore
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 cliffs
When the Niagara Falls become the Frozen Falls, icicles dangle off the edge of the cliffs and clouds of frozen mist bathe the scene in a filmy white.
—
Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
The world-class 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, with its scenic vistas of canyons and cliffs, is a showpiece within Red Ledges.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 4 Feb. 2026
Young kids paddled near the shallow edges and bigger kids jumped off the cliffs above the swimming hole, causing the adults to gasp and scold.
—Hazlitt, 4 Feb. 2026
That led to releases in the Vermilion Cliffs north of Grand Canyon in 1996, where the nonprofit Peregrine Fund runs an intensive program nurturing the nearly 100 birds that now occupy the region from the cliffs to Utah’s Zion National Park and a little beyond.
—Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 2 Feb. 2026
More adventurous hikers can tackle Morne du Vitet, the island’s highest point, or the Sentier de Grand Fond, which winds along dramatic coastal cliffs and natural pools.
—Molly Barstein, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2026
These cliffs are prone to landslides, creating safety issues.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2026
Then there’s the ice that’s been frozen in its tracks while cascading down cliffs and gorges.
—Brian Higgins, Outside, 28 Jan. 2026
California marked a milestone this month with the return of an uninterrupted Highway 1 through the perilous, yet spectacular cliffs of Big Sur.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
The world-class 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, with its scenic vistas of canyons and cliffs, is a showpiece within Red Ledges.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 4 Feb. 2026
Young kids paddled near the shallow edges and bigger kids jumped off the cliffs above the swimming hole, causing the adults to gasp and scold.
—Hazlitt, 4 Feb. 2026
That led to releases in the Vermilion Cliffs north of Grand Canyon in 1996, where the nonprofit Peregrine Fund runs an intensive program nurturing the nearly 100 birds that now occupy the region from the cliffs to Utah’s Zion National Park and a little beyond.
—Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 2 Feb. 2026
More adventurous hikers can tackle Morne du Vitet, the island’s highest point, or the Sentier de Grand Fond, which winds along dramatic coastal cliffs and natural pools.
—Molly Barstein, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2026
These cliffs are prone to landslides, creating safety issues.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2026
Then there’s the ice that’s been frozen in its tracks while cascading down cliffs and gorges.
—Brian Higgins, Outside, 28 Jan. 2026
California marked a milestone this month with the return of an uninterrupted Highway 1 through the perilous, yet spectacular cliffs of Big Sur.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliffs
Noun
-
This park is all escarpments, rivers, and old forests.—
Daniel Scheffler,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And Edinburgh perfumery Jorum Studio’s scents, which include Phloem and Pony Boy, are witty homages to the country’s crags and concrete jungles.—
CNT Editors,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Colorado Parks and Wildlife dedicated a new pedestrian bridge on Thursday in Eldorado Canyon State Park, where steep sandstone cliffs and precipitous crags have lured expert rock climbers from around the world since the 1970s.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The land was a former family vineyard and cherry tree orchard -- an elevated site draped along a bend of high ridges and exposed bluffs that fall toward the water.—
Erik Matuszewski,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
There are plenty of picnic spots on the bluffs to soak up the scenic surroundings and even a mixed fir and redwood forest within the property's bounds.—
Chelsee Lowe,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cliffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliffs. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
