torrential

adjective

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 As temperatures rise, weather patterns can shift between intense dryness, sparking bushfires, and torrential rain, prompting floods. — Emily Farra, Vogue, "“You Can’t Fight Fire, You Have to Work With It”—In Australia, These Women Are Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge to Protect Their Land," 9 Apr. 2021 The storm stalled over Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala, for several days bringing torrential rain and subsequent flooding wiped entire communities off the map. — Allison Chinchar And Haley Brink, CNN, "The Greek alphabet will never be used again to name tropical storms," 17 Mar. 2021 The storm will try to move east by Sunday night, with heavy torrential rain moving into parts of Arkansas and Missouri again. — Daniel Manzo, ABC News, "Winter storm could bring multiple feet of snow to Denver," 13 Mar. 2021 Days of torrential rain have caused catastrophic flooding across Hawaii this week, forcing evacuations, closing roads and destroying homes. — Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, "'Unprecedented': Heavy rains lead to crippling floods in Hawaii; homes damaged and residents forced to flee," 11 Mar. 2021 An evacuation order for hundreds of residents from Haleiwa, a town north of Honolulu, was lifted late Tuesday as the threat of flooding from torrential rains subsided, according to Hawaii News Now. — Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, "'Unprecedented': Heavy rains lead to crippling floods in Hawaii; homes damaged and residents forced to flee," 11 Mar. 2021 An impressive frontal system swept through Connecticut Sunday evening with high winds and torrential downpours. — courant.com, "Wind gusts Sunday reached 67 mph in Stamford," 16 Nov. 2020 The storm's torrential downpours triggered devastating landslides that have killed dozens across the region. — Fox News, "Tropical Storm Eta roars toward Florida as hurricane watches, state of emergency declared," 8 Nov. 2020 The family’s Internet connection is shaky and routinely cuts out during torrential downpours, plaguing her with anxiety about how her children will fare with remote schooling. — Washington Post, "Left without school or day care, farmworkers are bringing their kids to work," 15 Oct. 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

12 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Torrential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torrential. Accessed 14 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for torrential

torrential

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of torrential

: coming in a large, fast stream

See the full definition for torrential in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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