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

The record may come as no surprise after a summer marked by extreme weather, from wildfires to floods, and on the cusp of what scientists believe will be a historic El Niño. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 10 Sep. 2026 Each El Niño seems to include some unexpected results, especially regarding where droughts and floods appear. — Steven Paton, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026 That’s important as the group responds to more than 20 emergencies, including the Nepal floods and Congo’s Ebola outbreak. — James Pollard, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026 And as temperatures continue to rise, heat waves, storms, floods and wildfires will get more frequent and more dangerous, said Texas Tech climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe. — ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026 The droughts, floods, and crop yield reductions brought on by El Niño represent one of the primary risk factors. — CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 The advancing gas front improves sweep efficiency by penetrating tight, unreached reservoir compartments that standard water-injection floods bypass during secondary extraction campaigns. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026 Clark says large, sediment-laden floods in this region have been increasing in number over the last decade or so, and warming temperatures appear to be part of the cause. — Thor Benson, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026 According to Marco Tedesco, a geophysicist at Columbia University, the task of developing early warning systems for landslides, glacier collapse events and glacial outburst floods requires sustained effort. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

Verb

The rabbit does not control the rain that floods its burrow or the drought that kills its food. — Chris Lee, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026 The camera moves constantly and visual information — lights, split screens, colors, sounds, movement — floods the viewer. — William Earl, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026 Cinematographer Sean Price Williams floods the frame at times with oversaturation, and vibrant lights worthy of a melodrama. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for floods

Noun

Legitimate footage showed torrents of water sweeping through a valley.

— Thor Benson, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026
Burn scars on the landscape wildfires rapidly funnel water into downslope torrents.

— Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 1 Sep. 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

The quality of the coffee seems a bit underwhelming, and its bitterness drowns out much of the perceptible campfire-ness.

— Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 1 Sep. 2026
With notable traffic boosts over the Android competition guaranteeing more digital inches and headlines, the associated media coverage drowns out alternatives.

— Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026