tsunami

noun

Definition of tsunaminext
as in surge
a very high, large wave in the ocean that is usually caused by an earthquake under the sea and that can cause great destruction when it reaches land The coastline will suffer devastating damage if a tsunami ever hits it.

Related Words

Relevance

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 tsunami Her nonprofit responded to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, wildfires in Hawaii and California and hurricanes in Florida, according to Thompson. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026 The look of 24-hour cable news evolved that day, as the tsunami of information led to Fox News, MSNBC and CNN all adding running tickers at the bottom of the screen. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026 Witness the botch job that was made of assessing the 9% ratings drop in 2016, which apparently had nothing to with the usual election-year cannibalism or a tsunami of high-profile player injuries. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2026 The death toll stands at more than 1,300 after the August 26 disaster triggered by the collapse of a section of glacier, which plunged into water below setting off a tsunami-like surge. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tsunami
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tsunami
  1. surge
  2. surf
  3. swell
  4. tidal wave
Noun
  • Forecasters issued a hurricane warning and a storm surge warning for portions of the northern gulf coast.
    — MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
  • That the current surge in antisemitism is so prevalent in the United States should weigh heavily on our national conscience.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of surge
Noun
  • Meanwhile, a swell from Hurricane Rachel is expected to bring elevated surf of 5 to 6 feet to area beaches on Tuesday through Thursday, according to the weather service forecast.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Rachel’s swells are expected to generate life-threatening surf and rip-current conditions off Mexico’s coast, the NHC warned.
    — Fabiola Sanchez, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of surf
Noun
  • Already, waves are approaching a seaside rail line and oceanfront homes were damaged during swells last month tied to Hurricane Marie.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, a swell from Hurricane Rachel is expected to bring elevated surf of 5 to 6 feet to area beaches on Tuesday through Thursday, according to the weather service forecast.
    — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of swell
Noun
  • Now, more hiring managers are confronting the tidal wave of job candidates with their own AI tools.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The road here has been a long one marked by a tidal wave of industry opposition, a bruising legal fight, and threats by Paramount CEO David Ellison to exit Hollywood and relocate Paramount to another state.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of tidal wave

Browse Nearby Words

tsk-tsks
tsunami
tsunamis
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on tsunami

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tsunami

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All