torrential

tor·ren·tial | \ tȯ-ˈren(t)-shəl

How to pronounce torrential (audio)

, tə- \

Definition of torrential

1a : relating to or having the character of a torrent torrential rains

b : caused by or resulting from action of rapid streams torrential gravel

2 : resembling a torrent in violence or rapidity of flow

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Examples of torrential in a Sentence

The rain caused torrential flooding.

Recent Examples on the Web In England and Scotland, the Met Office national weather agency still had 85 flood warnings in force as torrential rains caused numerous rivers to overflow their banks. — Fox News, "Surfers catch large waves from major Europe storm under bridge in England," 13 Feb. 2020 According to New South Wales Rural Fire Service media officer James Morris, the torrential rain helped put out the Currowan fire on Saturday. — Isaac Yee And Ivana Kottasová, CNN, "Sydney's heaviest rain in 30 years put out bush fires that have been burning for months," 10 Feb. 2020 The team also worked in the night and in torrential rain. — Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, "A Smithsonian team discovered a new coronavirus. The story behind that effort shows what it takes to get ahead of potential pandemics," 8 Feb. 2020 Climate change’s effects on the five locations range from erosion caused by crashing waves and buffeting wind to rising seas that threaten the , ocean acidification and torrential rain. — Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, "New Tool Tracks Climate Change’s Impact on World Heritage Sites," 5 Feb. 2020 Atmospheric rivers, which are long bands of water vapor in the atmosphere that are pushed by strong winds, have inundated the West Coast with torrential rain and flooding and buried the Sierra and Cascades in snow. — Peter Fimrite, SFChronicle.com, "Atmospheric rivers that hit California getting a boost from melting Arctic ice," 27 Jan. 2020 For instance, both Hurricane Harvey, which killed at least 68 people in 2017, and Hurricane Florence, whose torrential rains flooded large parts of the US East Coast, were influenced by abnormally high temperatures. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN, "Oceans are warming at the same rate as if five Hiroshima bombs were dropped in every second," 13 Jan. 2020 These are the worst floods Indonesia has seen since 2013, when at least 29 people died in the aftermath of torrential rains. — Time, "66 People Have Died in Indonesia's Devastating Floods. Here's What to Know," 8 Jan. 2020 National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Agus Wibowo said most of the fatalities included those who had drowned or been electrocuted since rivers broke their banks early Wednesday after extreme torrential rains hit on New Year's Eve. — Niniek Karmini, Anchorage Daily News, "60 dead in landslides, flash floods in Indonesia’s capital," 4 Jan. 2020

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

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Last Updated

18 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Torrential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torrential. Accessed 29 Feb. 2020.

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