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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
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of rift
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
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2025
Fast forward nearly three decades after her death, Diana’s sons are in a irreparable rift and no longer talk to each other.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rift
Noun
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
Verb
The idea that this idiot could just casually walk through a rift in space to get to an infinite closet was just an absurd throwaway gag in the first season.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2025
Fast forward nearly three decades after her death, Diana’s sons are in a irreparable rift and no longer talk to each other.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 12 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rift
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rift
Noun
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These magma-spewing mounds are responsible for 80 percent of the country’s seismic activity, including glowing fissures that splinter the landscape for up to 2 miles.—
Robin Catalano,
Robb Report,
7 Aug. 2025
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The measures eventually passed after internal Democratic fissures led to enough representatives returning to form a quorum.—
Rachael Dziaba,
ABC News,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Yet regardless of the device or price point, a gap remains in the investment that most companies are making in technology to support remote work for their rank-and-file employees.—
Melody Brue,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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In the middle lies a gap between strategy and execution.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In severe cases, the heart wall can rupture, requiring emergency surgery.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
20 Aug. 2025
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The waves can then rupture the ice dam or moraine, unleashing a flood of water, sediment and debris.—
Suzanne OConnell,
The Conversation,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The roomy dustbin didn’t need constant emptying, and the crevice tool came in clutch for picking up crumbs between couch cushions and from the tight corners of car seats.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Aphonopelma Chiricahua: Named after the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona, this large, black-bodied species dwells in crevices and rocky burrows.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Gordon, hitting holes hard with his physical running style, sparked the run game in the second half.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Aug. 2025
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With just 18 holes remaining, Ludvig Aberg and Harry Hall round out the top five at 8-under.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
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If the community fractures over which path to take, and no consensus emerges, adoption may be stalled.—
Korok Ray,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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The star pass rusher was wreaking havoc on the NFL last season before fracturing his tibia and fibula in Week 6.—
Austin Mock,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Aiyuk had a slow start to the campaign before tearing his ACL in Week 7.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
23 Aug. 2025
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Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum suffered probably the worst injury any athlete could imagine during the NBA playoffs, tearing his Achilles and potentially altering the trajectory of his career.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 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 27 Aug. 2025.
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