blizzard

noun

bliz·​zard ˈbli-zərd How to pronounce blizzard (audio)
Synonyms of blizzardnext
1
: a long severe snowstorm
2
: an intensely strong cold wind filled with fine snow
3
: an overwhelming rush or deluge
a blizzard of mail around the holidays
blizzardy adjective
or less commonly blizzardly

Did you know?

The earliest recorded appearance of the word blizzard meaning “a severe snowstorm” was in the April 23, 1870 issue of a newspaper published in Estherville, Iowa. Blizzard shows up again during the following years in several newspapers in Iowa and neighboring states, and by 1888, when a snowstorm paralyzed the Eastern seaboard, the word was well-known nationally. However, in other senses, the word blizzard existed earlier. Davy Crockett, for instance, used it twice in the 1830s, once to mean a rifle blast and once to refer to a blast of words. All of these uses seem related, but the ultimate origin of the word is still unclear.

Examples of blizzard in a Sentence

We were snowed in by a raging blizzard.
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.
Floods, droughts, deep freezes, and blizzards! Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 21 Apr. 2026 For decades, Indian Point operated 24/7 and supplied roughly 2,000 megawatts of carbon-free electricity around the clock — through heat waves, blizzards, and everything in between. Nicole Malliotakis, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026 At the end of the day, this means that an infantry squad can simply swap magazines and suddenly be able to lay down a lead blizzard against incoming drones. David Szondy april 19, New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2026 Read was accused of hitting O'Keefe with her SUV during a blizzard after a night of heavy drinking and leaving him to die in the snow outside of a Canton home. Matt Schooley, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for blizzard

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1870, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of blizzard was in 1870

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blizzard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blizzard. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

blizzard

noun
bliz·​zard ˈbliz-ərd How to pronounce blizzard (audio)
1
: a long heavy snowstorm
2
: a very strong cold wind filled with fine snow
3
: an overwhelming rush or deluge
a blizzard of mail
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