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
Some of those storms could produce locally heavy downpours before drier air returns later Saturday night and Sunday, allowing temperatures to remain seasonably warm with highs in the middle 80s.
—
Vytas Reid, CBS News, 4 June 2026
This involves draining more floodwater and blocking its source, along with building more water retention ponds to shield the cave system from the full impact of recent downpours.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
The flooding followed intense overnight downpours.
—Joe Marusak
may 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 May 2026
Storm hazards include frequent lightning strikes, wind gusts up to 50 mph and heavy downpours.
—Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026
Sudden torrential downpours, lightning storms or extreme sub-zero winter temperatures that make working on outdoor electrical lines hazardous.
—Nick Perry, USA Today, 28 May 2026
But during heavy downpours, the rain can’t sink in fast enough, and much of the water runs off instead, often fueling flooding.
—David Boutt, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Some heavy downpours will be possible.
—Lissette Gonzalez, Miami Herald, 25 May 2026
The dude has been knocked down by waves, face-planted while calling challenges, and conducted Tribal Council in both downpours and insufferable heat.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Vytas Reid, CBS News, 4 June 2026
This involves draining more floodwater and blocking its source, along with building more water retention ponds to shield the cave system from the full impact of recent downpours.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
The flooding followed intense overnight downpours.
—Joe Marusak
may 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 May 2026
Storm hazards include frequent lightning strikes, wind gusts up to 50 mph and heavy downpours.
—Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026
Sudden torrential downpours, lightning storms or extreme sub-zero winter temperatures that make working on outdoor electrical lines hazardous.
—Nick Perry, USA Today, 28 May 2026
But during heavy downpours, the rain can’t sink in fast enough, and much of the water runs off instead, often fueling flooding.
—David Boutt, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Some heavy downpours will be possible.
—Lissette Gonzalez, Miami Herald, 25 May 2026
The dude has been knocked down by waves, face-planted while calling challenges, and conducted Tribal Council in both downpours and insufferable heat.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downpours
Noun
-
The entire squad, coaches and backroom staff are jumping up and down on the podium as gold confetti rains down on them.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Although recent rains have helped improve conditions slightly, particularly over parts of the panhandle, according to DaSilva, drought conditions in much of the state are still severe.—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
December to March is technically rainy season but storms typically happen once per day.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Rainfall totals in the Kansas City area The storms packed a powerful punch, producing frequent lighting and thunder, prompting a tornado warning for parts of Clay and Jackson counties, and drenching some parts of the metro.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Downpours.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downpours. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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