Definition of cleftnext
as in fissure
an irregular usually narrow break in a surface created by pressure my fishing line managed to get wedged in a cleft in the rocks

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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 cleft Along with the Antwerp Six, Martin Margiela put the small Belgian city of Antwerp on the international fashion radar, founding his house in 1988 and introducing cleft-toed boots, deconstructed clothes and all-white stores to the fashion lexicon. Miles Socha, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026 Apparently growing out of the cleft between her breasts was a large mauve orchid. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025 Doctors couldn't tell her how severe the cleft would be or any other complications that may be involved with Benji's diagnosis. Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025 But today, the most important political cleft is not the fading distinction between right and left, but the rising conflict between liberal and illiberal, democratic and autocratic. David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cleft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleft
Noun
  • On a historic square in Savannah, with live oaks cloaked in Spanish moss, Aaron Whitley, the Chatham County Democratic Party chair, says Ossoff has managed to transcend those fissures better than most.
    Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But a fissure remains between those actors who stay morally opposed to cloning, and those who embrace this new reality.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • High-pressure washing can force water into seals and crevices, damage weatherstripping, and strip paint—especially on doors that are already showing signs of chipping or peeling.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Unapproved use of old cardboard pieces placed in underside crevices below the center prep table.
    Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cleft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleft. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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