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
Someone who hears that their city needs flood infrastructure to protect neighborhood property values is processing an adaptation message without ever using the word. — Jamil Wyne, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 Rocha said there are several affordable, small ways that can help people stave off flood damage to their homes. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
The city is flooded with dull and uninteresting structures clad in the material. — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026 Local officials are gearing up to meet the demand and figuring out how to support the workers expected to flood into the region in the coming years. — P.r. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 23 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
  • In a torrent of articles, Weiner has pushed for global nuclear disarmament.
    — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Total rainfall of nearly 3 feet was expected on the higher windward slopes, turning rivers into raging torrents and threatening mudslides.
    — Alexa St. John, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of torrent
Verb
  • The wreck of a steam tugboat dating from the early 1900s is the latest relic to emerge from shrinking waters in Serbia as Europe's rivers run dry, with the continent engulfed in prolonged, extreme heat and drought.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Firefighters struggled to reach people trapped on the upper floors as thick smoke engulfed the building, a police officer told the news agency.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of engulf
Verb
  • Ukraine has increasingly launched swarms of hundreds of drones in an attempt to overwhelm Russian air defenses.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Those wanting to dip their toe for the first time in either genre won’t be overwhelmed.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of overwhelm
Verb
  • Oliver has been away from Buffalo's facility for periods this summer in the aftermath of his son, also named Ed, drowning in June at a residential pool in Houston.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026
  • North American carrier upgrade cycles align perfectly with Apple's September calendar, channelling extensive marketing support and customer upgrades towards the new iPhone, effectively drowning out rival Android flagships.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of drown
Verb
  • Bodies, sunken boats and the remains of towns that were submerged when the reservoir was made have also been discovered at Lake Mead when water levels were low.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
  • If using cold water for thawing, place chicken in leakproof packaging, submerge, and allow about 30 minutes for every pound.
    — Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 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 27 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flood

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flood

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