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
Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
This provides evidence of two separate earthquake events happening in quick succession—as the first earthquake was settling a layer of silt over the ocean floor, a second shock sent another avalanche of sand over top.
—Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2025
Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 4 Aug. 2021
The distinctive light green of aspen leaves in summer, set off from the deep greens of conifers such as lodgepole pines, frequently marks the zones where winter snow is unstable and tends to avalanche.
—Michael C Grant, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
See All Example Sentences for avalanche
Noun
Directed by German filmmaker Markus Welter, the film is inspired by the Swiss legend of the famous barrel-wearing rescue dog who helped recover dozens of people swept up in avalanches in the 1800s.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
This provides evidence of two separate earthquake events happening in quick succession—as the first earthquake was settling a layer of silt over the ocean floor, a second shock sent another avalanche of sand over top.
—Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
And many of those paths, some of which are accessible from the Humphreys Peak trail, will avalanche every year.
—Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 4 Aug. 2021
The distinctive light green of aspen leaves in summer, set off from the deep greens of conifers such as lodgepole pines, frequently marks the zones where winter snow is unstable and tends to avalanche.
—Michael C Grant, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
See All Example Sentences for avalanche
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avalanche
Noun
-
Once again, Melissa will bring heavy rainfall that can quickly trigger flash flooding and landslides, along with damaging winds and dangerous storm surge.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The slow-moving storm is poised to drop up to 30 inches of rain on Jamaica, increasing the risk of life-threatening flooding, landslides, and long-duration power outages.—
Sara Sneath,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Like other key aspects of the agreement, that influx did not go exactly as planned.—
Hana Kiros,
The Atlantic,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The region experienced an influx of people traveling to South Florida during the 1920s, known as the Great Florida Land Boom, drawn by the endless possibilities of economic advancements, potential landownership and the charm of a beach haven.—
Dontaira Terrell,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Grandma's fall inspires middle schooler's invention Kevin said his grandmother, who lives with his family, fell at home about five years ago.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The Phillies clearly have work to do this offseason after falling short in the NLCS, but restoring the relationship with Harper and emphasizing how false the rumors are needs to be a top priority.—
Shaun McAvoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But, locally, even a temporary closure of CalFresh will push a flood of hungry people toward free food providers, a countywide network of roughly 600 food pantries and food banks.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
26 Oct. 2025
-
This could trigger life-threatening floods and landslides, especially in regions that are recovering from prior storms.—
Daniel Orton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Officials at the Water Reclamation Authority are pursuing new goals after the utility was officially released last year from a pair of longstanding legal agreements that required the utility to address sewer overflows, leading to major investments across the system.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Both the 350-person main sanctuary and 60-person overflow room were filled at the church, a few blocks from where the collision killed Andrew Olsen and injured his two siblings in the Lake Murray area of San Diego Monday morning.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Oct. 2025
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,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Investigators have not yet shared what caused the plane to skid off the runway.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Bransten recounts meeting with David and Ralph Lauren at the time, prepared with slides.—
Tharin Pillay,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
-
In one clip, Mason is tickling and playing with their little girl, while the next slide features a family selfie.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Cast adrift in a frosty wilderness—a harrowing yet welcome departure, visually, from the Gothic shadows of Victor’s lair—the Creature experiences a dollop of decency, courtesy of a blind old farmer (a wonderful David Bradley), but also a deluge of misery, courtesy of everyone else.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
28 Oct. 2025
-
While investors will keep an eye on shutdown negotiations in the week ahead, the deluge of earnings will dominate the conversation on Wall Street.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Avalanche.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avalanche. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share