avalanche 1 of 2

noun

Definition of avalanchenext
1
as in landslide
a large mass especially of snow, ice, dirt, or rocks descending from a high place Much of the mountainside was covered by the avalanche.

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2
as in influx
a sudden large amount of something that overwhelms After the disaster, the town received an avalanche of letters and donations from supporters and well-wishers.

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avalanche

2 of 2

verb

as in to fall
to fall down in a large mass The snow avalanched down the mountainside.

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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 avalanche
Noun
The avalanche is considered one of the worst disasters in Nepal mountaineering history. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026 The avalanche covered the base camp in 14 feet of snow, per The Tourist Times, which cited NNMGA. — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2026
Verb
James and the Lakers were getting avalanched, but a run to undo a 17-point deficit got them to within a point before the Memphis Grizzlies smothered them with a barrage of baskets. — Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2023 That a bunch of boys will insincerely avalanche into girls sports in order to gain some competitive advantage, to slake some hearty thirst for winning? — Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Feb. 2022 See All Example Sentences for avalanche
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avalanche
  1. landslide
  2. influx
  3. fall
  4. flood
  5. overflow
  6. skid
  7. slide
  8. deluge
Noun
  • During the previous general election — which saw Starmer lead the governing Labour party to a landslide victory and end 14 years of Conservative rule — Burnham was serving as Mayor of Manchester.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Rescuers are still searching for more than 5,000 people missing in the border region with China after August’s glacier collapse unleashed landslides and a flash flood that tore through valleys.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of landslide
Noun
  • European countries have hardened their stance against Chinese imports over fears that an influx of goods like solar panels and EVs could hollow out the bloc’s industries.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Our cities and towns are booming with job opportunities due to the influx in companies relocating their headquarters here.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of influx
Verb
  • On the price front, China's residential prices have already fallen by 22% since a 2021 peak, compared with a 67% drop in Japan's after a far greater run-up in prices, the S&P report said.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Insider buying fell 18% to 1,290 buyers, down from 1,580 in the second quarter.
    — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of fall
Noun
  • That bypass channel will serve as the flood control element of Panther Island.
    — Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Boulder argued the companies and a trade group knew decades ago that fossil fuels would hurt the environment, raising the risk of floods, extreme heat and wildfires.
    — Carrie Johnson, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of flood
Noun
  • Your overflow of coffee table books,backup candles, and other living room miscellany can find a home in this sideboard that can anchor your entryway or moonlight as an entertainment console.
    — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The restaurant was so popular that in 1955, Sewell opened a second location, Pizzeria Due, to handle the overflow.
    — Edward Robert McClelland, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of overflow
Verb
  • Walker’s Harley-Davidson struck the deer near Beaverdam Road, overturned, skidded crossed the center line and ran off the road, Freeman said.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Jared Jones pitched six strong innings, Jake Mangum had an RBI double in the second inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the skidding Angels 1-0 on Friday night.
    — Jared Jones, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of skid
Noun
  • But putting America on a presentation slide and actually establishing yourself in the US motorcycle market are two very different propositions.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Then, the film cuts to show our protagonist’s hand hovering in front of a slide projector displaying a plot of cheap land in South Carolina where nuclear weapons were developed during the Cold War.
    — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of slide
Noun
  • Given this was such a deluge, a few of the most notable points of concern might be an appropriate rain gauge.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Those projections were revised down (and revised down again) after a deluge of bad buzz.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of deluge

Browse Nearby Words

avails
avalanche
avalanched
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Cite this Entry

“Avalanche.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avalanche. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on avalanche

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about avalanche

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