FLOODS Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

floods 1 of 2

noun

plural of flood

as in torrents

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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floods

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of flood

as in engulfs

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

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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 floods

Noun

Climate change has fueled an increase in the number — and intensity — of severe weather events like wildfires, hurricanes, droughts and floods. — Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026 Water floods Wonderland Avenue following a water main break in Laurel Canyon. — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 The study could lead to more accurate rainfall predictions for urban areas, especially for extreme storms that cause floods and other dangers. — Damien Pine, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2026 Months prior, in March, heavy rains caused landslides and floods in Ethiopia’s southern Gamo Zone area, and over 100 people died. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026 As global average temperatures rise, extreme weather events like heat waves, floods and droughts are becoming more frequent and intense worldwide, often forcing farmers to scramble to adapt. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 While the ballot box can’t change the risk of floods or hurricanes, a constitutional amendment on the November ballot could reduce homeowners’ costs in the form of lower property taxes. — Abigail Hall, The Conversation, 30 July 2026 Residents from the region spoke to her about dealing with avalanches, floods and landslides in their isolated home. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 30 July 2026 Lessons from managing extreme cold, floods, and hurricanes offer a blueprint for adaptation. — Nicole F. Roberts, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Verb

Each year, the tournament floods Baltimore’s economy with millions of dollars, boosting tourism, supporting local businesses, and energizing our communities. — Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2026 If an agent misbehaves, floods a system, or takes an unauthorized action, the organization on the receiving end often has no reliable way to determine who is responsible for it. — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026 Sunlight floods the main living area thanks to an entire facade of front-facing, floor-to-ceiling windows that also supplies immersive views of the surrounding forest. — Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 15 July 2026 Melatonin floods the brain and body, telling each cell that night has come. — Literary Hub, 17 June 2026 Eating quickly floods your body with calories, which can cause blood sugar levels to skyrocket. — Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 9 June 2026 The virus floods the immune system, eventually shredding our vasculature. — Neil Vora, Time, 22 May 2026 Years later, when our lives intersect with children and children’s books, the ice thaws; that old love floods us. — Mac Barnett, Longreads, 5 May 2026 Neuroscientists Wendy Suzuki, PhD, Samuel Wang, PhD, and Gary Small, MD explain how movement increases blood flow, boosts growth factors like BDNF, and floods the brain with mood-lifting neurochemicals. — Big Think, 30 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for floods

Noun

Most of the deaths were in Hengzhou, where the partial collapse of a reservoir dam sent torrents of water into the city and claimed 26 lives, said Ding Wei, the vice mayor of Nanning city, which has jurisdiction over the area.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
One significant problem, however, is that red dwarfs spit out harmful torrents of radiation in fierce gusts of their stellar winds, which can strip away a planet's atmosphere.

— Keith Cooper, Space.com, 2 July 2026

Definition of torrents

Verb

And yet, in Yoon’s hands, a character’s suffering never overwhelms their capacity for tenderness.

— Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
One person has died and rescues are underway as catastrophic flooding overwhelms the Hill Country, a little more than a year after the July 4 floods killed more than 130 people in Central Texas.

— Mary Ella Hastings July 16, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026

Definition of overwhelms

Verb

James eventually drowns, leaving Sara and Max to continue alone.

— Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 29 July 2026
Most of the peril comes with dangerous ship-wrecking moments, including one that implies the death of Moana's relative, while our heroine herself almost drowns on her first voyage from land.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 July 2026

Definition of drowns

Verb

Heat schmaltz in a large pot to 325 F, ensuring the fat fully submerges the chicken.

— Kelly McCarthy, ABC News, 9 June 2026
Reviews have been positive for the thriller, which follows several residents of a small South Carolina town after a freak storm submerges the streets in enough water for marine predators to move in looking for snacks.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 2026