superstorm
noun
su·per·storm
ˈsü-pər-ˌstȯrm 
: a very large and powerful storm
Superstorm Sandy was no freak, say experts, but rather a hint of a coming era when millions of Americans will struggle to survive killer weather. They're telling us we shouldn't be surprised that this 900-mile-wide monster marched up the East Coast this week paralyzing cities and claiming scores of lives.—
Tim Lister
Tim Lister
Examples of superstorm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Read More: Don’t Ignore Your Climate Anxiety Florida, already being battered by the landfall of superstorms, also has natural, seasonal fires to contend with in its conifer forests.
—Lydia Millet, TIME, 2 Apr. 2024
And with every passing year—with wildfires, superstorms, tornadoes and demand from the Global South in international frameworks and institutions to be treated as a partner on par with the Global North—companies must look to authentic environmental and social business models.
—Wayne Elsey, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Recent observations of Saturn reveal superstorms (at right) and mega lightning bolts
--even a giant blizzard
-- that put the terrestrial equivalents to shame.
—Kevin Grazier, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2010
In contrast, Sandy's larger surge is a result of the post-tropical cyclone's track, which saw the superstorm turn in to and then smash the coast of New Jersey, pushing a punishing wall of water in front of it into the Garden State’s coast as well as north into New York Harbor.
—David Biello, Scientific American, 2 Nov. 2012
One superstorm could send walls of water sweeping through populated areas.
—Spencer Lowell Charlie Savage Dan Kois David Wallace-Wells David Marchese Kwame Anthony Appiah Kwame Anthony Appiah John Cotter Phillip MacIak Eric Kim Anne Boyer John Hodgman, New York Times, 24 June 2023
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the superstorm which flooded the Manhattan subways, the New York Metropolitan Transport Authority issued a catastrophe bond to protect it from a similar event in the future.
—David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2023
As the next superstorm looms, people in America’s wealthiest neighborhoods might seem to have little to complain about.
—Geoff Dembicki, The New Republic, 2 Aug. 2023
None of the Army Corps’ recent superstorm protection projects are going to spring up in a major city anytime soon.
—Geoff Dembicki, The New Republic, 2 Aug. 2023
Lydia Millet, TIME, 2 Apr. 2024
And with every passing year—with wildfires, superstorms, tornadoes and demand from the Global South in international frameworks and institutions to be treated as a partner on par with the Global North—companies must look to authentic environmental and social business models.
—Wayne Elsey, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Recent observations of Saturn reveal superstorms (at right) and mega lightning bolts
--even a giant blizzard
-- that put the terrestrial equivalents to shame.
—Kevin Grazier, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2010
In contrast, Sandy's larger surge is a result of the post-tropical cyclone's track, which saw the superstorm turn in to and then smash the coast of New Jersey, pushing a punishing wall of water in front of it into the Garden State’s coast as well as north into New York Harbor.
—David Biello, Scientific American, 2 Nov. 2012
One superstorm could send walls of water sweeping through populated areas.
—Spencer Lowell Charlie Savage Dan Kois David Wallace-Wells David Marchese Kwame Anthony Appiah Kwame Anthony Appiah John Cotter Phillip MacIak Eric Kim Anne Boyer John Hodgman, New York Times, 24 June 2023
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the superstorm which flooded the Manhattan subways, the New York Metropolitan Transport Authority issued a catastrophe bond to protect it from a similar event in the future.
—David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 29 Aug. 2023
As the next superstorm looms, people in America’s wealthiest neighborhoods might seem to have little to complain about.
—Geoff Dembicki, The New Republic, 2 Aug. 2023
None of the Army Corps’ recent superstorm protection projects are going to spring up in a major city anytime soon.
—Geoff Dembicki, The New Republic, 2 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'superstorm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1919, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near superstorm
Cite this Entry
“Superstorm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superstorm. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share