CATARACT Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

cataract

noun

ˈka-tə-ˌrakt

Definition of cataract

as in waterfall

a fall of water usually from a great height the roaring cataract is one of the park's most majestic sights

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in flood

a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms in spring the melting snows usually produce a cataract that inundates the valley

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataract

Noun

Warmer months are best for taking advantage of the property’s private lake, nearby hiking trails, and waterfalls, while autumn draws leaf peepers eager to experience the Blue Ridge Mountains at their most colorful.

— Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 20 July 2026
Eventually, the helicopter ejaculates a waterfall from its door, and the storm subsides.

— Lauren Oyler, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

Definition of waterfall

Noun

Others, like Shim’s Be Blessed Catering & Food Trailer, have shown up with food, giving away over 1,000 sandwiches to flood survivors.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
And yet, despite the flood of options, there’s even more to come, including a new addition to Ja Morant’s ever-expanding cache of Air Force 1 styles.

— Riley Jones, Footwear News, 19 July 2026

Definition of flood

Noun

Fuping county, China — Soccer players in red jerseys jump up and down, spraying their cheering teammates with champagne, as confetti and streamers cascade around them and crowds capture the jubilation on their phones.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Mayfield, initially an MVP contender, battles a cascade of physical setbacks that undermine his team's success, though his family life and competitive nature shine through.

— Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of cascade

Noun

Her fight is interrupted by Percy (Walker Scobell), who brings down a torrent of water over the Laestrygonian.

— Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026
Some spots of the Guadalupe — which saw historic rainfall in the early morning hours of July 4, 2025, and became a a deadly torrent that killed more than 130 people — rose by more than 30 feet this week, according to the AP.

— Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026

Definition of torrent

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.

Browse Nearby Words

catapults

cataract

cataracts

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cataract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataract. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of cataract

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on cataract

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

aerie

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes