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
Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
This was an avalanche of ineptitude, failure of the worst kind.
—Miami Herald, 19 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
Like one icicle falling from an alpine crag onto an unstable snow cornice below, a small slide rapidly turns into a thundering avalanche.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 19 Oct. 2025
This was an avalanche of ineptitude, failure of the worst kind.
—Miami Herald, 19 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
-
For example, state parties now get major influxes of cash, to the tune of a million dollars a month, to hire staff, set up programs, and fortify their ranks.—
Brittany Shepherd,
ABC News,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Capturing those audiences — and turning a profit at the same time — requires a constant influx of new talent, cheap productions, and fast turnaround time, all of which the SAG-AFTRA agreements could potentially target.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
And King Priam, at great personal risk, shows up with a ransom and falls on his knees and clasps Achilles’ hand.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
As Semafor previously reported, many inside the magazine were excited by Guiducci’s arrival, believing the old Vanity Fair was moving too slowly, had fallen too far outside the zeitgeist, and had lost some of its sheen.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In addition to preserving natural ecosystems and the sustainable fisheries that depend on them, reefs may help to protect coastlines from storms and floods, which will become ever more urgent as climate change and rising sea levels give rise to more dangerous storms.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The death toll from heavy floods in central Vietnam has risen to 13, the government said Friday, as residents of the flooded city of Hoi An started cleanup operations as the water levels began to subside.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The buildup can also clog sewage systems, leading to overflows that send raw sewage into rivers, lakes, and oceans.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Tap the three-dot or overflow icon.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As the game wore on, skidding to an eventual 28-6 Miami loss, some of those fans in particular would have won a best costume contest, hands down.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Steer clear of puddles - Driving into puddles or low areas of rainwater can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Earlier this month, a Delta Air Lines flight attendant caused delays after accidentally deploying an emergency slide at an arrival gate.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
There were no slides, no product demo.—
Michal Lev-Ram, CNBC Contributor,
CNBC,
30 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 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share