as in rains
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity
the downpour was so heavy that we were soaked by the time we got to the car
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Recent Examples of downpours
The affected regions in southern Africa are no strangers to heavy downpours and flooding, but scientists were alarmed by the magnitude of the recent events.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
The rain is resulting from a slow-moving low-pressure system over the region, which repeatedly draws in moisture, causing intense downpours, per The Guardian.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
In both settings, rain comes down in short, intense downpours.
—Stephen Acabado, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
And the world continued to grapple with extreme weather, from droughts to downpours.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 14 Jan. 2026
Swings between heavy downpours and prolonged droughts will be the new normal.
—Bob Maliva, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
Meteorologists are monitoring at least two new storms expected to soak the region in early January, drawing fresh concerns after dayslong downpours caused flooding and mudslides in recent weeks.
—Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 6 Jan. 2026
That section of the river rose rapidly on New Year’s Day when a huge Pacific storm produced torrential downpours across San Diego County, causing widespread flooding.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
That storm could bring isolated thunderstorms with brief heavy downpours and hail, as well as snow levels down to 5,000 feet, according to the weather service.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
The rain is resulting from a slow-moving low-pressure system over the region, which repeatedly draws in moisture, causing intense downpours, per The Guardian.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
In both settings, rain comes down in short, intense downpours.
—Stephen Acabado, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
And the world continued to grapple with extreme weather, from droughts to downpours.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 14 Jan. 2026
Swings between heavy downpours and prolonged droughts will be the new normal.
—Bob Maliva, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Jan. 2026
Meteorologists are monitoring at least two new storms expected to soak the region in early January, drawing fresh concerns after dayslong downpours caused flooding and mudslides in recent weeks.
—Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 6 Jan. 2026
That section of the river rose rapidly on New Year’s Day when a huge Pacific storm produced torrential downpours across San Diego County, causing widespread flooding.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
That storm could bring isolated thunderstorms with brief heavy downpours and hail, as well as snow levels down to 5,000 feet, according to the weather service.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downpours
Noun
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The landslide was triggered by heavy rains, but ex-miners blame unsafe conditions.—
Justin Kabumba,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni visited a southern town in Sicily on Wednesday that has been left teetering on the edge of a cliff after days of heavy rains from a cyclone triggered a huge landslide that brought down properties and forced the evacuation of over 1,500 people.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Airport workers were digging out of feet-high snow drifts and de-icing equipment after one of the most powerful winter storms in years, which led to the largest cancellation day for air travel since March 2020 on Sunday.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Organizations recommend checking their websites or contacting them directly before donating items, as storage space and immediate needs can change rapidly during winter storms.—
Cheyenne Derksen,
Oklahoman,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downpours.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downpours. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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