cliffs
Sheer rock faces
Cliffs is the plural of cliff—a steep rock face, especially one rising from water or at the edge of a plateau.
The word often appears in place names: the White Cliffs of Dover, the cliffs of Big Sur.
Figuratively, a cliff suggests a sharp drop or sudden change: fiscal cliff, cliff-hanger.
Steep slope dividing elevations
- butteIsolated flat-topped hill
- mesaFlat-topped steep-sided elevation
- canyonDeep river-cut gorge
- gorgeDeep, narrow valley
plateau · ridge · outcrop · pinnacle · ravine · precipice · bluff · headland
Steep rock face
- sheerAbsolute; also diaphanous
- drop-offSudden decrease or edge
- overhangSection projecting beyond support
- vertiginousInducing a spinning sensation
gradient · incline · plunge · vertical · height · edge · brink · exposure
Ocean's edge
- lighthouseCoastal beacon tower
- wavesTraveling energy disturbances
- tidepoolsCoastal rock hollows holding seawater
- surfWaves near shore
kelp · seabirds · gulls · cormorants · pelicans · saltwater · maritime · dolphins
Steep, rugged rock formations
- bouldersLarge rounded stones
- jaggedSharply uneven, notched
- rockfaceExposed cliff surface
- weatheredEroded by exposure
harsh · inhospitable · wild · untamed · scrubland · windswept · barren · craggy
Impressive splendor and scale
- sublimeAwe-inspiring greatness
- awe-inspiringEvoking reverential wonder
- toweringOf imposing height
- spectacularStrikingly impressive to behold
breathtaking · dramatic · panoramic · imposing · monumental · soaring · lofty · vista
escarpment
Steep slope dividing elevations
gorge · plateau · ridge · outcrop · pinnacle · ravine · precipice · bluff · headland · face
precipice
Steep rock face
- sheerAbsolute; also diaphanous
- drop-offSudden decrease or edge
- overhangSection projecting beyond support
vertiginous · gradient · incline · plunge · vertical · height · edge · brink · exposure · dizzying
seashore
Ocean's edge
- lighthouseCoastal beacon tower
- wavesTraveling energy disturbances
- tidepoolsCoastal rock hollows holding seawater
surf · kelp · seabirds · gulls · cormorants · pelicans · saltwater · maritime · dolphins · whales
crags
Steep, rugged rock formations
weathered · harsh · inhospitable · wild · untamed · scrubland · windswept · barren · craggy · gnarled
grandeur
Impressive splendor and scale
- sublimeAwe-inspiring greatness
- awe-inspiringEvoking reverential wonder
- toweringOf imposing height
spectacular · breathtaking · dramatic · panoramic · imposing · monumental · soaring · lofty · vista · scenic
- hikingtrail, hike, hiker, trails, day hikes
- US geographystates, capitals, state boundaries, state lines, regions
- climbable thingstrees, rocks, ladders, mountains, ropes
- mountain thingspeaks, summits, valleys, hills, rocks
- scenic viewsviewpoints, mountain views, sunset, vistas, vista
- Alpine terrainpeaks, valleys, glacial lakes, mountain passes, ridges
- fall off a cliffDescend suddenly from height
- cliff dwellingsHomes built into rockfaces
- cliff hangerSuspenseful unresolved ending
- fiscal cliffScheduled austerity convergence point
- cliff edgeSheer drop's boundary
- cliff divingJumping from heights into water