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as in gap
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
as in to rupture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rift
Simon Perry, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Ali Vaez, the Iran director of the Crisis Group, an independent research group, said that, with Mr. Trump, Iran has a unique opportunity for a lasting deal with the United States and the potential to resolve a diplomatic rift nearly five decades long.
—Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022
The police, unsurprisingly, started to fire tear gas canisters again, trying to rift and wedge the fleeing protesters.
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 28 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for rift
Noun
The relationship between father and son remains strained, and the courtroom tensions mirror the personal rift between them.
—Simon Perry, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Ali Vaez, the Iran director of the Crisis Group, an independent research group, said that, with Mr. Trump, Iran has a unique opportunity for a lasting deal with the United States and the potential to resolve a diplomatic rift nearly five decades long.
—Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
However, the supercontinent began to rift and splinter in the late Triassic about 230 million years ago.
—Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2022
The police, unsurprisingly, started to fire tear gas canisters again, trying to rift and wedge the fleeing protesters.
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 28 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for rift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rift
Noun
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In total, Microsoft has invested $13.75 billion in the startup, but more recently, fissures in the relationship between the two companies have begun to show.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
5 Apr. 2025
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The fissure of the volcanic eruption had broken through protective barriers around the town of Grindavik, and had reached 1,200 meters, or nearly 4,000 feet, in length.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The median home price is a benchmark for how much a U.S. home costs, which is largely driven by the gap between housing supply and homebuyer demand.—
Sylvan Lane,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2025
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Over time, the gap between Clifford Davis and the rest of Fort Worth ISD has widened today, where less than 1 in every 10 students is reading and doing math on grade level.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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University of Nottingham The CMX performed this feat by generating reactive oxygen species which ruptured the microbes' protective outer membranes.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
23 Apr. 2025
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However, the Big Cat is not playing right now after Woods ruptured his Achilles in March.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The lightweight vacuum lasts 40 minutes and includes a crevice tool and pet multitool.—
Terri Williams,
Architectural Digest,
25 Apr. 2025
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When a person leaves the beach, the sand often sticks to their skin, gets tucked into clothing crevices, and may even be deposited in food or drink items.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Discover Magazine,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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One obstacle the Bengals face in their quest for postseason play, however, is the outbreak of injuries that started in spring training and have created a significant hole in their offense.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Apr. 2025
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One interesting depiction of the Last Supper was found above a German coat of arms, which depicted a goblet, a platter, and a round piece of bread with a hole in it, similar to a Jerusalem bagel.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The second season, though, is about how bonds can fracture.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
21 Apr. 2025
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In a world fractured by crisis, The Day May Break offers a rare kind of clarity—the kind that comes not from distance, but from standing close enough to see the humanity in every face, human or otherwise.—
Lee Sharrock,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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After Hurricane Helene tore through the region last fall, a resilient community came together to bring it back to life.—
Barbara Kingsolver,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2025
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The picture smacks you with mini-LED punch, deep contrast, and a 144 Hz refresh that keeps Valorant razor-smooth while AMD FreeSync stomps tearing.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Dallas keeps bringing up last year’s six-game win over Colorado in an apparent effort to buck up themselves and their despondent fans, who are rending their garments over a meaningless seven-game losing streak to end the season.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2025
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The Seagull The season’s starriest show is Chekhov’s rending play about art, love and loss in a new version from Duncan Macmillan and Thomas Ostermeier, with Ostermeier directing.—
Matt Wolf,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rift. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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