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maelstrom

noun mael·strom \ ˈmāl-strəm , -ˌsträm \
|Updated on: 6 Jul 2018

Definition of maelstrom

1 : a powerful often violent whirlpool sucking in objects within a given radius
  • tried to shoot the canoe across a stretch of treacherous maelstrom
  • —Harper's
2 : something resembling a maelstrom in turbulence
  • the maelstrom enveloping the country
  • a maelstrom of emotions

See maelstrom defined for English-language learners

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Examples of maelstrom in a Sentence

  1. She was caught in a maelstrom of emotions.

  2. The ship was drawn into the maelstrom.

Recent Examples of maelstrom from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'maelstrom.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Maelstrom comes from an early Dutch proper noun that literally meant "turning stream." The original Maelstrom is a channel that has dangerous tidal currents located off the northwest coast of Norway. The word became popularized in the general vocabulary of English in reference to a powerful whirlpool, or something akin to one, in the 19th century. This was partly due to its use by writers such as Edgar Allan Poe and Jules Verne (whose writing was widely translated from French) in stories exaggerating the tempestuousness of the Norwegian current and transforming it into a whirling vortex.

Origin and Etymology of maelstrom

obsolete Dutch (now maalstroom), from malen to grind + strom stream

maelstrom Synonyms

Synonyms

gulf, vortex, whirlpool;

Related Words

tourbillion (or tourbillon);

eddy, swirl, whirl;

Other Oceanography Terms

littoral, sound

MAELSTROM Defined for English Language Learners

maelstrom

noun

Definition of maelstrom for English Language Learners

  • : a situation in which there are a lot of confused activities, emotions, etc.

  • : a dangerous area of water that moves very fast in a circle

Learn More about maelstrom

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for maelstrom Spanish Central: Translation of maelstrom Nglish: Translation of maelstrom for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about maelstrom

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