1
as in landslides
a large mass especially of snow, ice, dirt, or rocks descending from a high place
Much of the mountainside was covered by the avalanche.
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2
as in influxes
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.
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as in tumbles
to fall down in a large mass
The snow avalanched down the mountainside.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of avalanches
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Keep an eye out for roller balls as an indication of a forthcoming shed cycle of loose avalanches.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
More than 40 backcountry explorers saw avalanches on various Colorado mountain ranges between Friday and Sunday, according to field reports submitted to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026
Measuring how the climate crisis affects the frequency of these avalanches is difficult, scientists say.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
Brutal weather and the threat of more avalanches had kept crews from safely recovering the nine people killed in the avalanche until Saturday.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 21 Feb. 2026
At least five people have been killed in a string of avalanches in western Austria, authorities said Saturday.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
But Jimmy Chin is the exception, filming his climb, avalanches, injuries, and near-fatal setbacks that befall the voyage.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
Noun
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Keep an eye out for roller balls as an indication of a forthcoming shed cycle of loose avalanches.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
More than 40 backcountry explorers saw avalanches on various Colorado mountain ranges between Friday and Sunday, according to field reports submitted to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026
Measuring how the climate crisis affects the frequency of these avalanches is difficult, scientists say.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 2026
Brutal weather and the threat of more avalanches had kept crews from safely recovering the nine people killed in the avalanche until Saturday.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 21 Feb. 2026
At least five people have been killed in a string of avalanches in western Austria, authorities said Saturday.
—ABC News, 21 Feb. 2026
But Jimmy Chin is the exception, filming his climb, avalanches, injuries, and near-fatal setbacks that befall the voyage.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avalanches
Noun
-
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Since 2021, landslides have forced a shutdown of rail service through the city multiple times.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The titans of the industry have started investing heavily in purchasing elections through massive influxes of cash.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Coyotes also manage urban deer populations — a critical ecosystem function because ballooning deer herds can decimate forests, stunt plant growth and contribute to invasive species influxes.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Those records are only going to get worse with time as the team tumbles toward the draft lottery.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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The ceremony turns into something reminiscent of the Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, as the last keg tumbles down a nearby hill and the entire wedding party follows.—
Sarah Whitten,Sara Salinas,Sarah Jackson,Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The National Guard provides help for floods, fires and other disasters in red and blue states across the country, including in Florida.—
Michael Chertoff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Mar. 2026
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The heavy influx of rain this week also means there is a risk for localized floods, which is another reason to be monitoring the weather this week.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The overflows have triggered a number of recreational and shellfish harvesting advisories along the Potomac.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
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As a result, sewage blockages and overflows became widespread, increasing the risk of wastewater contaminating drinking water sources and heightening the likelihood of outbreaks of diarrhea, hepatitis A and other waterborne diseases in an already vulnerable community.—
Sarah Ferguson,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The former is a ring on the bottom of the rock that skids across the ice, and the latter is a band around the sides of the rock that collides with other rocks (ideally knocking an opponent’s rock off the bull’s-eye or nudging your team’s closer to it).—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
10 Feb. 2026
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Cargo plane skids off runway in Hong Kong An Emirates Boeing 747 cargo plane skidded off the runway after arriving at Hong Kong International Airport and landed in the sea, according to airport authority.—
Clara McMichael,
ABC News,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Aerial footage showed passengers using slides to exit the aircraft.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
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The plane stopped on a taxiway just off the runway and passengers evacuated down slides and mobile stairs, streaming across the tarmac past other aircraft.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Lightning made the sky as bright as day, the thunder was a continuous crash, and torrents of rain poured down.—
Doris DeCleene,
Outdoor Life,
25 Feb. 2026
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According to experts, these homes encroach on a path that has carried torrents of water for centuries during periods of heavy rains.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Avalanches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avalanches. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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