Definition of escarpmentnext
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

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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 escarpment Just as the sun prepared to sink beyond the escarpments, its rays struck every piece of the fractured glass resting on top of the window frames, alighting all of them at once, as if they were shot with electricity. New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026 As the sun dropped and the temperature fell, Scarabeo Roches Noires emerged on the horizon, a small cluster of white tents perched on a rocky escarpment. Fergus Scholes, TheWeek, 30 Jan. 2026 Outside, stone cladding and turf roofs help the buildings blend into the escarpment. Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 29 Jan. 2026 At 5 o’clock the sun dropped behind Steamboat Mountain, a towering escarpment that overshadows the entire area. William J. McRae, Outdoor Life, 26 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for escarpment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for escarpment
Noun
  • That income limit is a cliff — earning a dollar over the limit generally means paying the full, unsubsidized premium.
    Sarah Agostino, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Both are protected areas with stunning beaches, dramatic cliffs, and unique wildlife, like dolphins and flamingos.
    Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The optical illusion reminded early settlers of the blockades of wooden stakes, or palisades, built around forts to ward off threats.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
  • In 2014, the regional nonprofit group SOS Sahel came to Barkadroussou and taught villagers to stabilize the dunes by building palisades of palm fronds.
    Julie Bourdin, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Here, outdoor enthusiasts can experience the raging Potomac River and the rocky crags of Great Falls.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 26 June 2026
  • But, typical of Hockney portraiture, the resulting drawings magnificently captured every crag in Auden’s impossibly craggy face.
    Mark Rozzo, Vanity Fair, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Bassist Randy Meisner was a Nebraska farm guy, raised in the shadow of prominent sandstone bluffs that guided dreamy Americans westward in the 19th century.
    Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Set on a bluff slightly inland from Lake Muskoka itself, the resort allows players to tee off against a backdrop of incredible views.
    Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Escarpment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/escarpment. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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