gulch

noun

ˈgəlch How to pronounce gulch (audio)
Definition of gulchnext
as in canyon
a narrow opening between hillsides or mountains that can be used for passage the gulch floods in the spring with the runoff from the mountains, so wait until later in the summer to hike it

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 gulch The road to the potato patches — where the community grows most of its vegetables — crosses several large gulches that frequently spill tons of rock and soil onto the track, requiring regular maintenance. — NPR, 4 Apr. 2026 Tucked into the coastal bluffs just off of Highway 1, Calla Lily Valley is a small gulch that explodes with vibrancy this time of year as hundreds of shoulder-high white flowers bloom in unison. — Gregory Thomas, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 Mar. 2026 In the 1910s, Bisbee packed some 35 nationalities onto ledges and into its gulches and streets, with Mexican and Balkan miners among the largest groups, most of them working at Phelps Dodge’s Copper Queen Mine. — Masha Hamilton, Longreads, 19 Feb. 2026 Farther up the gulch, the water formed a pool, which gave off a rank chemical smell. — Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gulch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gulch
  1. canyon
  2. ravine
  3. gorge
  4. valley
Noun
  • The hikers made it to Horse Camp, a popular staging area, but couldn’t find the trail and traveled down a steep, dry river canyon.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The area is sparsely populated with private estates set atop hills or within canyons, making firefighting access difficult.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of canyon
Noun
  • Killing a Bear Movistar Plus, Arte France In 2020, Cachou, a brown bear, is found dead in a ravine, sparking a criminal investigation.
    — Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The standout among the entertaining spaces is the baby-blue kitchen, which extends from the rear of the home into a rounded turret overlooking a ravine.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of ravine
Noun
  • The Ivy League college where fraternities throw parties in towering mansions and students weave between deep gorges on their way to class is being rocked over the handling of rape allegations from 2024.
    — Grey Battle, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Within the town, the Victoria Falls Hotel is an old favorite, with 149 rooms and dramatic views of the rocky gorge (doubles from $760).
    — Charukesi Ramadurai, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of gorge
Noun
  • That raises the possibility of patchy frost, particularly in sheltered valleys and locations where winds relax overnight.
    — Bill Kelly, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The film opens with Tenzing as a boy, gawking at Mount Everest, which looms across the valley like Godzilla.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of valley

Browse Nearby Words

gulags
gulch
gulches
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Cite this Entry

“Gulch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gulch. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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