Definition of cloudburstnext
as in rain
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity the weatherman warned of possible cloudbursts in the afternoon

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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 cloudburst Warmer air soaks up water like a sponge, and all this extra moisture can result in extreme rain and sudden downpours like cloudbursts, especially when that air meets the mountains. Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2025 Such cloudbursts are increasingly common in India’s Himalayan regions and Pakistan’s northern areas, and experts have said climate change is a contributing factor. Muhammad Sajjad, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025 The flash flooding was caused by a rare weather event called a cloudburst, a sudden, heavy downpour where an unusually large amount of rain falls in a short period of time, according to Indian weather officials. ABC News, 6 Aug. 2025 The flood began in the early afternoon after a cloudburst caused the Kheerganga river to swell, leading muddy water to inundate the village in Uttarkashi district and surrounding areas, according to the BBC. Abigail Adams, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cloudburst
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cloudburst
Noun
  • Light Layers The fickle nature of spring means that a beautiful sunny day can turn cold, windy, and spitting with rain at the drop of a hat.
    Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The primary bedroom features a walk-in closet and a marble bath with a dual vanity, an oversized shower with a rain head, and a freestanding soaking tub.
    Saleema Syed, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • But in recent years, the once-sleepy Australian lookout has found itself at the center of a global social media storm.
    Trista Kurniawan, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • With these statistical corrections, researchers can more accurately predict how energy behaves in chaotic environments, such as during the formation of severe storms.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cloudburst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cloudburst. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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