as in roads
a route that has many sharp turns for climbing a steep hill
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Recent Examples of switchbacks
Layers of different rock merge, sometimes sharply, as switchbacks cut through a sequence of geological history.
—
Rebecca 'becca' Dyer, AZCentral.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Whether such switchbacks would make the walk to the stadium longer or shorter than the current path remains to be determined.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Enter a ravine and follow gradual switchbacks to a small mesa at the top.
—Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
The road is a mix of tight switchbacks, sudden grades and blind curves that can humble lesser vehicles.
—Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2026
The best hiking pants earn their place in our packing list the hard way—through scree scrambles, sweaty switchbacks, and the kind of bushwhacking that tests each and every seam.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2026
Highway 101 passes directly through town, and there are no switchbacks or white-knuckle coastal roads.
—Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
There are 52 switchbacks on this trail, which was completed in 1918, with panoramic views along the way and an up-close look at the rock’s geological intricacies.
—Molly Allen, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
Descend its famously crooked path, flanked by cascading hydrangeas and storybook Edwardian homes—then watch cars zigzag through eight tight switchbacks while tourists crowd the sidewalks, snapping photos of its surreal descent.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Rebecca 'becca' Dyer, AZCentral.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Whether such switchbacks would make the walk to the stadium longer or shorter than the current path remains to be determined.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Enter a ravine and follow gradual switchbacks to a small mesa at the top.
—Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
The road is a mix of tight switchbacks, sudden grades and blind curves that can humble lesser vehicles.
—Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 5 Mar. 2026
The best hiking pants earn their place in our packing list the hard way—through scree scrambles, sweaty switchbacks, and the kind of bushwhacking that tests each and every seam.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2026
Highway 101 passes directly through town, and there are no switchbacks or white-knuckle coastal roads.
—Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
There are 52 switchbacks on this trail, which was completed in 1918, with panoramic views along the way and an up-close look at the rock’s geological intricacies.
—Molly Allen, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
Descend its famously crooked path, flanked by cascading hydrangeas and storybook Edwardian homes—then watch cars zigzag through eight tight switchbacks while tourists crowd the sidewalks, snapping photos of its surreal descent.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switchbacks
Noun
-
Hydroplaning is the term for when a vehicle begins sliding uncontrollably on wet roads.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Crowds also jammed the surrounding roads and beaches, reminiscent of the Apollo moonshots in the 1960s and ’70s.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Here's your daily look at traffic on major highways in the Kansas City area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Waymo doesn’t yet operate on Miami highways.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There were concerns about traffic gridlock around the airport and neighboring streets.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Olivia Munn has never looked more chic in an all-black fit and large black sunglasses on the streets of New York City on March 31.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Flash flooding currents are strong and can sweep drivers off roadways.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The strong currents from flash floods can pull drivers off roadways.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Independent testing shows the Trax reaching 0–60 mph in about nine seconds, which feels perfectly adequate for merging onto Denver freeways or climbing the foothill highways west of town.—
Sponsored Content,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Driving across America’s vast freeways, Koch observes, you might be fully absorbed in a radio story while your eyes still process the road ahead, attending to relevant features.—
Shai Tubali,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Secret churches, perilous conversions During the Palm Sunday service, the in-person audience at the nondenominational church was much smaller than on a typical Sunday, with only about a half-dozen members dotting the rows of blue chairs in front of the stage.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Keep the rows spaced 30 to 36 inches apart to allow for sufficient airflow and growth.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But that central gathering represented just one of the day’s events demonstrations with the Sacramento region, with hundreds showing up that morning and afternoon to march, chant and wave signs along busy thoroughfares in surrounding suburban cities.—
ANDREW GRAHAM,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
While the state takes care of maintenance for a number of major roads like interstates and highways, the city must maintain other high-traffic thoroughfares.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Both turnpikes are currently classified as state highways, said Darian Butler, OTA engineering director.—
Barbara Hoberock,
Oklahoma Voice,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Most of the construction happening right now is occurring on the highways, turnpikes, and interstates that get most residents through their daily commute.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Switchbacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/switchbacks. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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