cyclone

1 of 2

noun

cy·​clone ˈsī-ˌklōn How to pronounce cyclone (audio)
Synonyms of cyclonenext
1
a
: a storm or system of winds that rotates about a center of low atmospheric pressure, advances at a speed of 20 to 30 miles (about 30 to 50 kilometers) an hour, and often brings heavy rain
b
2
: any of various centrifugal devices for separating materials (such as solid particles from gases)
cyclonic adjective
cyclonically adverb

Cyclone

2 of 2

trademark

Cy·​clone ˈsī-ˌklōn How to pronounce Cyclone (audio)
used for a chain-link fence

Examples of cyclone 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.
Noun
Typhoons form in the western Pacific, while cyclones (aka tropical cyclones) form in the Indian Ocean and in the South Pacific. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026 Though two officers were injured and several people were charged, Mamdani dismissed the snowball fight as merely a fun way to celebrate a snow cyclone. Marcia Kramer, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026 In the weeks that followed the cyclone, more than 20 decomposing bodies washed ashore in Italy and Libya while other human remains were spotted floating in the middle of the sea. ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026 As warming oceans increase the likelihood and intensity of cyclones in the Arabian Sea and raise the chances of landfall on the Arabian Peninsula, storm surge and extreme rainfall could overwhelm drainage systems and damage coastal desalination. Annika Hammerschlag, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cyclone

Word History

Etymology

Noun

modification of Greek kyklōma wheel, coil, from kykloun to go around, from kyklos circle

First Known Use

Noun

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cyclone was in 1848

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cyclone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyclone. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

cyclone

noun
cy·​clone ˈsī-ˌklōn How to pronounce cyclone (audio)
1
: a storm or system of winds that rotates about a center of low atmospheric pressure, advances at a speed of 20 to 30 miles (30 to 50 kilometers) an hour, and often brings a great deal of rain
2
cyclonic adjective

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