escarpment
noun
es·carp·ment
i-ˈskärp-mənt 
1
: a steep slope in front of a fortification
2
: a long cliff or steep slope separating two comparatively level or more gently sloping surfaces and resulting from erosion or faulting
Synonyms
Examples of escarpment in a Sentence
the castle sits atop an escarpment that for hundreds of years made it virtually invulnerable to attack
Recent Examples on the Web
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
The stately Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is a ubiquitous presence in Quebec City, always peering down on visitors from its highpoint on the Cap Diamant escarpment.
—Vjosa Isai, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Hike back down the Beach Trail from the visitors center through chaparral and sandy bluffs to the shore at Flat Rock, where rain has eroded deep arroyos into the 300-foot sandstone escarpments.
—Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024
It was built of a tough wood that only grew along a small escarpment near the village.
—Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2024
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Graham Averill, Outside Online, 4 Feb. 2025
The stately Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is a ubiquitous presence in Quebec City, always peering down on visitors from its highpoint on the Cap Diamant escarpment.
—Vjosa Isai, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Hike back down the Beach Trail from the visitors center through chaparral and sandy bluffs to the shore at Flat Rock, where rain has eroded deep arroyos into the 300-foot sandstone escarpments.
—Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024
It was built of a tough wood that only grew along a small escarpment near the village.
—Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 16 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for escarpment
Dictionary Entries Near escarpment
Cite this Entry
“Escarpment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/escarpment. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
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escarpment
noun
es·carp·ment
is-ˈkärp-mənt
1
: a steep slope in front of a fort or defensive area
2
: a long cliff
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