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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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
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
-
More light rain is expected during the afternoon as temperatures plunge.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Heavy rain can supercharge invasive grasses, crowding out the blooms.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The National Weather Service confirmed on Tuesday that 12 tornadoes were produced across Illinois and northern Indiana during a series of severe storms earlier this month.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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One unforeseen storm might send users looking for an alternative.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cloudburst.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cloudburst. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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