steppe

noun

ˈstep How to pronounce steppe (audio)
Definition of steppenext
as in prairie
a broad area of level or rolling treeless country nomads have long grazed yaks on the steppes of Mongolia

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 steppe Their weapon, the Sarmat, is named for centuries-old nomads who traversed the steppe on horse. — Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Feb. 2025 Accommodation is in a private ger camp– think yurts – on the steppe. — Everett Potter, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025 Central Asia’s mountains and steppes have been home to powerful nomadic groups for thousands of years. — Katie Hunt, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024 In 1974, Soviet scientists fired rockets from the steppes of Kazakhstan into the upper atmosphere. — Carl Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for steppe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for steppe
  1. prairie
  2. grassland
  3. plain
  4. pampa
  5. savanna
Noun
  • The acquisition expands the Lakewood Forest Preserve, the largest in the county with more than 2,900 acres of trails, woodlands, prairies, wetlands and lakes according to a county press release.
    — Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
  • In revealing how the prairie was consumed by colonization and agricultural practices time has proven detrimental, Smarsh’s piece is equal parts fascinating history and ecology lesson.
    — Longreads, Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
Definition of prairie
Noun
  • Its lush grasslands and graphics are beautiful to look at, but feudal Japan’s landscapes can appear homogeneous.
    — George Yang, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2025
  • In the plains of northern Kazakhstan, swampy forests meet grasslands as rivers cut through the landscape.
    — Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of grassland
Noun
  • Wind gusts up to 35 mph will be possible on the plains through Sunday evening and stronger winds are forecast for Monday afternoon.
    — Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Born at a federal site in Florida, he was released in 2021 onto the Alligator River refuge, a swath of coastal plain on North Carolina’s eastern shore.
    — Ben Goldfarb, Vox, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of plain
Noun
  • Use it for fresh buds or a few pampas stems to liven up your living room or sleeping space.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 11 Oct. 2023
  • Shop vibrant blooms like coral daisies, autumn sunflowers and golden yarrow, plus grass stems like pampas, wheat and bunny tails.
    — Alyssa Gautieri, Good Housekeeping, 13 June 2023
Definition of pampa
Noun
  • The movie played on an outdoor cinema screen in an artificially aged amphitheatre nestled in a reservation in the desert, complete with a sprawling savanna.
    — Caroline Reid, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
  • Shakespearean undercurrents provide the pulse of the narrative, a cat fight for the throne of a pride of lions on an African savanna alongside a coming-of-age cat tale.
    — Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of savanna

Browse Nearby Words

stepparents
steppe
stepped
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Steppe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/steppe. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on steppe

Nglish: Translation of steppe for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about steppe

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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Top 10 Sophisticated Insults
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
burrowing owl athene cunicularia tilts its head outside its burrow on marco island florida
Guess the Curious Origins of These Everyday Words Oh, that’s where that comes from…
See All