rift
Split between friends
A rift is a crack, split, or gap—especially one caused by breaking apart.
Geological rifts are long fractures in the earth's crust where tectonic plates separate.
More commonly, rift describes a serious disagreement or estrangement: a rift between the brothers, a growing rift in the party.
The word suggests a relationship once whole, now damaged.
Separation into parts
- crackNarrow break or attempt
- fractureSplit in hard material
- breakInterrupt continuity
- tearTo pull apart
fissure · cleft · gap · breach · opening · rent · severance · cleavage
Imperfection or blame
- fissureNarrow crack in rock
- faultlineCrustal fracture zone
- tectonicOf crustal forces
- plateFlat dish for food
crevasse · crack · chasm · cleft · fracture · magma · volcano · earthquake
Verbal clash over differences
- feudBitter ongoing rivalry
- schismFormal organizational fracture
- discordLack of agreement
- divisionSplitting into parts
falling-out · disagreement · quarrel · breach · estrangement · split · friction · tension
Emotional separation between people
- alienationState of being isolated
- separationState of being apart
- distanceSpace between two points
- divideSeparate into parts
breach · coolness · disconnection · falling-out · disaffection · detachment · isolation · withdrawal
Low ground between heights
- gorgeDeep, narrow valley
- canyonDeep river-cut gorge
- ravineDeep, narrow valley
- escarpmentSteep slope dividing elevations
basin · depression · cliff · East African · lake · highland · plateau · bluff
split
Separation into parts
tear · fissure · cleft · gap · breach · opening · rent · severance · cleavage · sundering
fault
Imperfection or blame
plate · crevasse · crack · chasm · cleft · fracture · magma · volcano · earthquake · mid-ocean ridge
dispute
Verbal clash over differences
division · falling-out · disagreement · quarrel · breach · estrangement · split · friction · tension · clash
estrangement
Emotional separation between people
- alienationState of being isolated
- separationState of being apart
- distanceSpace between two points
divide · breach · coolness · disconnection · falling-out · disaffection · detachment · isolation · withdrawal · rupture
valley
Low ground between heights
escarpment · basin · depression · cliff · East African · lake · highland · plateau · bluff · scar
- conflictsargument, fight, war, battle, dispute
- disputesargument, beef, bicker, clash, conflict
- incompatibilitiesmismatch, conflict, clash, friction, discord
- planetary featuresvolcano, mountain, crater, canyon, cliff
- cavescave, cavern, caves, caverns, grotto
- breaking downsplitting, fragmenting, dividing, breaking up, partitioning
riftbond
Binding tie or connection
unity · connection · closeness · solidarity · reconciliation
- dimensional riftOpening between parallel realms
- rift valleysFault-bounded crustal depressions
- Great Rift ValleyTectonic depression spanning continents
- East African RiftContinental divergence zone
- Albertine RiftWestern arm, African rift system
- spatial riftBreach in spacetime