1
as in landslide
a large mass especially of snow, ice, dirt, or rocks descending from a high place
Much of the mountainside was covered by the avalanche.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in influx
a sudden large amount of something that overwhelms
After the disaster, the town received an avalanche of letters and donations from supporters and well-wishers.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in to fall
to fall down in a large mass
The snow avalanched down the mountainside.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of avalanche
Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
But there is a more general dread about human vulnerability to technology—a growing existential fear that people are losing the authorship and agency of their own lives to, particularly, artificial intelligence—that will be reflected in an avalanche of related negligent-design legal claims.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026
John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Apr. 2022
That a bunch of boys will insincerely avalanche into girls sports in order to gain some competitive advantage, to slake some hearty thirst for winning?
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for avalanche
Noun
The trailer features dramatic scenes of people dangling from cliffs and an explosive avalanche.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
But there is a more general dread about human vulnerability to technology—a growing existential fear that people are losing the authorship and agency of their own lives to, particularly, artificial intelligence—that will be reflected in an avalanche of related negligent-design legal claims.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
The hillsides along Summit Lake will avalanche.
—John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 10 Apr. 2022
That a bunch of boys will insincerely avalanche into girls sports in order to gain some competitive advantage, to slake some hearty thirst for winning?
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for avalanche
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avalanche
Noun
-
Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Magyar will be helped by last weekend's landslide victory that gave him a supermajority, 137 of the National Assembly's 199 seats.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The influx of overseas talent will be different next year, which could push him lower in the draft.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
-
As in Wisconsin, visitors from Illinois are sometimes referred to derogatorily using a swear word, and there is concern an influx of Chicagoans will raise housing prices.—
Robert McCoppin,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Cortisol levels fell for both groups, according to the study.—
Mikayla Bunnell,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Put simply, prices must fall still further in these metros for shoppers to cover the monthly nut.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
An aerial photo of the Cheboygan Lock and Dam taken Saturday, April 11, shows water moving through the system, and flood precautionary measures, including pumps and sandbags, being taken at the dam.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Don't walk through flood waters.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Men’s letters to Shere overflow with complex feelings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Effects ripple beyond rural areas When hospitals close, nearby facilities absorb the overflow and often face less competition.—
Daniel R. George,
The Conversation,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Steer clear of puddles - Driving into puddles or low areas of rainwater can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The warning signs came long before a tractor-trailer skidded across the median of I-75 in Ohio and struck a pickup and an SUV on Christmas Eve morning in 2022, killing four members of the same family, one of whom was pregnant.—
Michael Kaplan,
CBS News,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the first slide, the movie star sat in a chair as Pita puts the finishing touches on her bangs with longer pieces on the sides.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
To be reasonable, Lawlor thinks, is to see your point of view as one of many—while avoiding the slide into pliancy, the endless perspective-taking of the pushover.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In this eight part documentary series, co-hosts John Biewen and Chenjerai Kumanyika explore the roots of today’s ongoing media crisis – the splintering of news audiences, the widespread perception of bias, and the deluge of misinformation – by delving through stories from the past and the present.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2026
-
But the deluge of hires has strained the agency, which promised signing bonuses of up to $50,000 and advertised that college degrees were not required.—
Ryan J. Foley,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Avalanche.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avalanche. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
