torrential

adjective

tor·ren·tial | \ tȯ-ˈren(t)-shəl

, 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

Authorities blamed the accident on bad weather, saying torrential rains had badly damaged the ground under the tracks. — Yeliz Candemir, WSJ, "Fatal Train Crash Near Turkish Capital," 13 Dec. 2018 Florence parked itself over the Carolinas on Saturday, bringing with it torrential downpours, dangerous winds and coastal flooding that required hundreds of water rescues and ended in multiple deaths. — Barnini Chakraborty, Fox News, "Florence weakens to tropical depression, but flooding threat remains severe," 16 Sep. 2018 Before you decide to wash it away, the liner won't smear, smudge, or run no matter how much you sweat, cry, or get caught in a torrential downpour. — Devon Abelman, Allure, "M.A.C. Liquidlast Liner Is So Pigmented, People Think It's Tattooed on My Eyelids," 7 Sep. 2018 The annual monsoon rains were already underway in Kerala when it was hit by torrential downpours beginning Aug. 8. — Aijaz Rahi, The Seattle Times, "Indian military scales down flood rescue operations," 21 Aug. 2018 Last January, about a month after a rash of wildfires torched hillsides throughout Southern California, torrential rains prompted mass evacuations and, in some parts, devastating mudslides. — Cameron Mcwhirter, WSJ, "Deadliest Fire in California History Deemed Contained," 25 Nov. 2018 Typhoon Trami hit mainland Japan on Sunday, dropping torrential rain and whipping up nearly 100 mph winds. — Meredith Carey, Condé Nast Traveler, "How Typhoon Trami Will Affect Your Travel," 1 Oct. 2018 Getty Images Maria Gabriela Flores, an architect based in San Juan, was home when Hurricane Maria pummeled Puerto Rico with 155-mile-per-hour winds and, in some areas, 20 inches of torrential rain. — Diana Budds, Curbed, "How architects and designers are rebuilding Puerto Rico," 20 Sep. 2018 The movie cuts directly from Paris to a thatched hut in Tahiti where Gauguin is furiously painting, oblivious to the torrential downpour outside. — Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Gauguin: Voyage to Tahiti' chronicles Gauguin’s desire to see a new way," 13 July 2018

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.