flood 1 of 2

noun

ˈfləd How to pronounce flood (audio)
Definition of floodnext
as in torrent
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms a flood nearly wiped out the town a flood of messages on my computer

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flood

2 of 2

verb

as in to engulf
to cover with a flood the lowlands were completely flooded angry calls flooded the radio station

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 flood
Noun
That protected those particular areas from ordinary floods, but the team claims, removed much of the river system’s overflow capacity. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 9 Aug. 2026 The cost may manifest in the next major flood, the next levee inspection, the next decision made by someone who has not yet seen what the system does at the margins. — Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2026
Verb
There is a reason why the super PACs and the billionaires are flooding Minnesota with all kinds of money, same thing as Michigan. — CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026 Historically, when the Yangtze flooded, water spread into surrounding floodplains, lakes and wetlands. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flood
  1. torrent
  2. engulf
  3. overwhelm
  4. drown
  5. submerge
  6. deluge
Noun
  • On the campaign trail, Mamdani received a torrent of criticism over his past calls for defunding the NYPD and pledges to transform the city’s public safety apparatus.
    — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The torrent’s force moved boulders more than 20 feet in diameter and weighing more than 275 tons, equivalent to the heft of more than 150 Subaru Outbacks.
    — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 27 July 2026
Definition of torrent
Verb
  • The Mazda was engulfed in flames, and all three vehicles were virtually destroyed.
    — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • In 2022, a fire engulfed large sections of the resort in flames, causing significant damage.
    — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of engulf
Verb
  • Standing amid the ruins of the villa and grotto, you might be overwhelmed by the ancient mythology that electrifies the air here.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Technology That Actually Works Modern luxury vehicles can overwhelm drivers with technology, and Mercedes certainly hasn’t embraced minimalism here.
    — Karl Brauer, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of overwhelm
Verb
  • But the chorus of the sisterhood threatened to drown out Vicki’s comments about the serial Housewives dater.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Just what Lee was thinking was drowned out by a TV mounted in the corner, blaring the news of the day, but the gist was clear.
    — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of drown
Verb
  • The boat rolled up out of the sea, but was practically submerged, swamped and sluggish, and the skipper floated free of her.
    — JAMES D. OXLEY, Outdoor Life, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Although the Navy has never officially disclosed the class’s maximum speed, publicly available estimates place it at over 35 knots while submerged.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of submerge
Verb
  • Social media, and frankly, corporate news media are designed to deluge us with bad news.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Disaster can strike in regions unaccustomed to their fury, as North Carolinians in the western end of the state painfully learned in 2024 as Hurricane Helene deluged the region.
    — Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of deluge

Phrases Containing flood

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flogs
flood
flooded
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Cite this Entry

“Flood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flood. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flood

Nglish: Translation of flood for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flood

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