Skip to main content
clifflike

clifflike

1 5.4
Very steep and high with a sharp drop at the edge
  • adjective
  • /ˈklɪfˌlaɪk/
translation icon : acantilado
  • The clifflike edges of the canyon made it clear that hikers should stay on the marked trails.

Examples

  • The clifflike mountains were both breathtaking and intimidating as they towered over the valley.

  • Wedge looked up, trying to spot some distant speck of color representing Coruscant's sky, but all he could see were clifflike building sides rising to infinity.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • I would like to suggest that this architectural iconography, although it may indeed appear clifflike, may also present some references to the function of this institution in its role as a formidable participant on a worldwide stage, perhaps unconsciously on the part of the architect.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Children love climbing the clifflike rock formations at the park, but they need to be careful.

Synonyms

steep
vsclifflike
131 2.5

Having a very sharp slope or almost vertical angle

refers to overall likeness to a high vertical landform rather than a plain slope
precipitous
vsclifflike
6 7.7

A very steep slope like a cliff that is dangerous to climb

means steep and high but without implied danger or suddenness
perpendicular
vsclifflike
1 6.7

So steep that it drops almost straight down

describes steep high form but not necessarily perfectly vertical
steep-sided
vsclifflike
1 4.3

A thing with sides that rise almost straight up

means steep and high overall, not only about the sides
cliffy
vsclifflike
6.8

Full of steep cliffs and rocky edges

emphasizes the general steep high shape rather than rough detail
cliffed
vsclifflike
7.0

A place with steep rock sides along its edge

focuses on resembling steep high form rather than physical rock faces
bluff
vsclifflike
7.4

Very steep and high, like the edge of a cliff

describes general steep high form rather than a prominent front

Antonyms

797 1.0

Level and even without parts higher or lower

27 1.0

Not steep and rising slowly

How Steep

precipitous
6 7.7
sheer
23 4.1
clifflike
1 5.4
steep
131 2.5
sloping
3.1

Surface Forms

clifflike positive

Morphology

clifflike = cliff (transparent) = cliff + like

Clearly formed from the noun 'cliff' plus the productive suffix '-like', meaning 'resembling a cliff'.

Etymology

Clifflike comes from the simple word cliff, which means 'a steep rock or high edge', and the ending -like, which means 'similar to'. So, clifflike describes something that is 'like a cliff', very steep or high.