variants
also savannahs
as in plains
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country
lions roaming the savanna
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of savannas
Earth’s biosphere includes microbes, forests, savannas, animals, and more.
—
Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026
Elephants are among the planet’s most majestic creatures, gentle giants who walk steadfastly through the savannas, forests and deserts of Africa and Asia.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 2 Apr. 2026
No colonial power had ever controlled the swamps and savannas of the interior—an alien land of lagoons, glade marshes, prairies, and hardwood thickets.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
The park offers one of the most exciting wildlife experiences in Southern Africa, with a million acres of biodiverse savannas, wetlands, and montane rainforests, and a range of animals that includes buffalo herds, lion prides, and an array of birds.
—Lisa Grainger, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
That sheer size creates a surprising diversity of landscapes that set Ruaha apart from the Serengeti’s flatter savannas.
—Nicholas Derenzo, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
Serval cats roam savannahs and wetlands.
—Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
According to the African Wildlife Foundation, serval cats are most commonly found on savannas and possess long necks and legs that enable them to see over tall grass.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
In 2009, Boko Haram launched an insurgency to establish a caliphate in Nigeria and the broader Sahel (the semi-arid transitional zone between the Sahara and savannas).
—MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026
Elephants are among the planet’s most majestic creatures, gentle giants who walk steadfastly through the savannas, forests and deserts of Africa and Asia.
—Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 2 Apr. 2026
No colonial power had ever controlled the swamps and savannas of the interior—an alien land of lagoons, glade marshes, prairies, and hardwood thickets.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
The park offers one of the most exciting wildlife experiences in Southern Africa, with a million acres of biodiverse savannas, wetlands, and montane rainforests, and a range of animals that includes buffalo herds, lion prides, and an array of birds.
—Lisa Grainger, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Feb. 2026
That sheer size creates a surprising diversity of landscapes that set Ruaha apart from the Serengeti’s flatter savannas.
—Nicholas Derenzo, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
Serval cats roam savannahs and wetlands.
—Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025
According to the African Wildlife Foundation, serval cats are most commonly found on savannas and possess long necks and legs that enable them to see over tall grass.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
In 2009, Boko Haram launched an insurgency to establish a caliphate in Nigeria and the broader Sahel (the semi-arid transitional zone between the Sahara and savannas).
—MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for savannas
Noun
-
This 70-million-year-old predator didn’t stalk herds on the plains.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
-
Despite the sweltering heat, the pilgrims gathered on the rocky hill and the surrounding plains for intense prayers that often mark a spiritual peak.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
The annual Belwin Bison Festival celebrates the release of the NorthStar Bison herd back onto the prairies at Belwin Conservancy.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
13 May 2026
-
First opened in 1876, outdoor enthusiasts love exploring Forest Park’s nature reserve, which is made up of more than 170 acres of forests, woodlands, savannas, prairies, wetlands, and more than 3 miles of waterways.—
Erika Ebsworth-Goold,
Travel + Leisure,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Similar trends have played out in Central Asian steppes and South American plains.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
-
Longer-running hiking trips take you everywhere from Western Greenland to the sea cliffs of the Faroe Islands, the steppes of Mongolia, or the Tien Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan.—
The Editors,
Outside,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Researchers have been tracking how the shift from grasslands to crops has affected honey bee health and beekeeper revenue.—
Jennie L. Durant,
The Conversation,
26 May 2026
-
Like the southeast, the Great Plains have been under intense drought for months and experienced strong winds and low humidity this season, which helped fan flames through tinder-dry grasslands.—
Kasha Patel,
CNN Money,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Savannas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/savannas. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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