as in cliff
a steep wall of rock, earth, or ice the castle sits atop an escarpment that for hundreds of years made it virtually invulnerable to attack

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 escarpment The national park promises epic escarpments, striking rock formations, and breathtaking bush walks less than an hour west of Sydney by car. Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2024 The rim is a 1,200-foot-tall escarpment that rises dramatically above a broad valley, giving you the perfect perch for spotting the show. Graham Averill, Outside Online, 3 Mar. 2025 During that time, the rover traveled about 1.2 miles along escarpments researchers believe were once part of an ocean shore 4 billion years ago. Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 24 Feb. 2025 Off the water, an easy 1.25-mile hike leads to one of the overlooks at Horseshoe Bend, where the Colorado River takes a drastic turn around a massive sandstone escarpment. Graham Averill, Outside Online, 4 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for escarpment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escarpment
Noun
  • Linda is prepared to take matters into her own hands when Nicky orchestrates a drone attack to incapacitate her, after which Charity pushes Linda off the cliff to her death.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 May 2025
  • The fiscal cliff was first reported by New York Focus in February.
    Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • Slice and Dice is a 5.12 in Indian Creek on the Way Rambo crag.
    Maya Silver, Outside Online, 12 Feb. 2025
  • Mount Lemmon, the tallest peak in the Santa Catalina Mountains, is a premier climbing destination with more than 2,700 routes ranging from beginner-friendly crags to expert-level ascents.
    Visit Tucson, AFAR Media, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • But what are the other buildings impacted by palisades fires?
    Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 13 Jan. 2025
  • The other, though crucial, faces steep palisades and deep waters, requiring more time and resources.
    Kathleen Kewley, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The property has a private tramway to transport guests 300 feet almost straight down the bluff from the main house at 9044 La Jolla Shores Lane.
    Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Fifteen years after her husband’s drowning in the nearby bay, Tressilian’s days are spent in a cranky routine: grumbling over the obscene resort stationed on the opposite bluff, reading London’s gossip columns, and summoning the household help with the insistent ringing of a bedroom call bell.
    Erik Morse, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Escarpment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escarpment. Accessed 8 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on escarpment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!