tsunami

noun

tsu·​na·​mi (t)su̇-ˈnä-mē How to pronounce tsunami (audio)
plural tsunamis also tsunami
Synonyms of tsunaminext
: a great sea wave produced especially by submarine earth movement or volcanic eruption : tidal wave
tsunamic adjective

Examples of tsunami in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The earthquake was followed by a tsunami and fires that destroyed much of the city. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 15 June 2026 Much of the debt is long-term, legacy obligations, including a tsunami of debt CPS took on when political gridlock in Springfield from 2015 to 2017 choked regular state funding. Joe Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026 Sheeran, 35, creates a tsunami of sound. Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 14 June 2026 The installation is inspired by the original Wind Phone, created in Japan by garden designer Itaru Sasaki following the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Itay Hod, CBS News, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tsunami

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, from tsu harbor + nami wave

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tsunami was in 1896

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tsunami.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tsunami. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

tsunami

noun
tsu·​na·​mi (t)su̇-ˈnäm-ē How to pronounce tsunami (audio)
: a great sea wave produced especially by an earthquake or volcanic eruption under the sea : tidal wave
Etymology

Japanese, from tsu "harbor" + nami "wave"

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