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, 12 Jan. 2026
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center is reminding skiers that the potential for avalanches remains high in some areas after a skier was injured on Saturday.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
Several incidents have made national headlines over the last year, including two separate avalanches in Oregon and California in February 2025 that killed three skiers.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
The Hornbein and Japanese Couloirs are defined by their steep, icy, and narrow conditions and the high risk of avalanches.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center is reminding skiers that the potential for avalanches remains high in some areas after a skier was injured on Saturday.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
Several incidents have made national headlines over the last year, including two separate avalanches in Oregon and California in February 2025 that killed three skiers.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
The Hornbein and Japanese Couloirs are defined by their steep, icy, and narrow conditions and the high risk of avalanches.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avalanches
Noun
-
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The eight main islands were formed by eruptions, landslides and erosion over thousands of years.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Many of the visitors interviewed by The Denver Post lived near ski resorts and national parks due to seasonal influxes in tourists and labor needs.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2026
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Those hedges are likely boosting foreign markets, which are smaller and more easily moved upward by influxes of new money.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After some careful shaking, the rabbit finally tumbles out of the hose.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
18 Dec. 2025
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The glass tumbles day and night in the waves against the pebbles and sand.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
18 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Natural light floods into the main pool area, while tranquil hanging plants blur the line between the exterior forest and the serene haven inside.—
Mary Honkus,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Jan. 2026
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Leaf season is a relentless sprint to prevent floods, falls and frustration.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Verb
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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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When deployed, a webbing bar slides under a suspect's car, wrapping around the rear tires and axle to slow the vehicle to a stop.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
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Visitors can expect wave pools, water slides, and lazy rivers throughout the water park.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In 2017, soaking storms led to flooding that caused $100 million in damage in downtown San Jose and the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people when the spillway at Oroville Dam, the nation’s tallest dam, in Butte County, partially collapsed under torrents of water.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
15 Jan. 2026
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Without intervention, water flows off the steep slopes in torrents, rapidly stripping away soil.—
Stephen Acabado,
The Conversation,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Avalanches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avalanches. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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