gale

noun

ˈgāl How to pronounce gale (audio)
Definition of galenext
as in explosion
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling the audience responded to the comedian's joke with gales of laughter

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 gale The nightjar carries it lightly But the world’s heavy as a lamp in a gale. — Rowan Ricardo Phillips, The New York Review of Books, 1 Aug. 2026 In Greece, hundreds of firefighters fought Saturday to protect Porto Germeno, a popular resort on the Gulf of Corinth, as gale-force winds drove flames through the coastal area between Athens and Thebes. — Thomas Adamson, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026 That strong southwesterly breeze has already led to a gale wind warning from the NWS for the north coast on Friday, and conditions will be only marginally better Sunday. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026 The United States is also facing gale-force productivity headwinds, such as the aging of the population and the relentlessly rising cost of health care, education, and housing. — Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for gale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gale
  1. explosion
  2. burst
  3. gust
  4. outburst
  5. eruption
  6. flash
  7. blaze
  8. storm
Noun
  • Deadly fires, often linked to electrical faults or gas cylinder explosions, are common in India where investigators have frequently pointed to safety lapses and inadequate enforcement of fire regulations as contributing to recurring loss of life.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Hugo Weaving’s Frank Harkness, the nefarious birth father of agent River Cartwright (Jack Lowdon), also makes an appearance, and the trailer previews plenty of explosions, shootouts and even hand-to-hand combat.
    — Lisa de los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of explosion
Noun
  • In little more than a year, Europe’s broadcasting sector has seen a burst of dealmaking that would have looked improbable a decade ago.
    — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The trick is to hold the can 8 to 10 inches away, and spray in short bursts.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of burst
Noun
  • In addition to blocking the view of those behind them, the canopy also presents a hazard of blowing away if there are wind gusts.
    — John Natale, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Hurricane Lala weakened to a tropical storm Sunday after skirting Hawaii without making landfall, but it wasn’t done punishing the Big Island with hurricane-force gusts.
    — Alexa St. John, Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of gust
Noun
  • The outbursts helped relieve some pressure, but Nakashima tightened up as the prospect of making his first Masters 1000 final neared.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • White left immediately after her 2 1/2-minute outburst ended without taking questions.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of outburst
Noun
  • Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions because of its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities are central to supernova explosions as well as volcanic eruptions and this study will help astronomers and geophysicists alike in predict how energy moves through these systems.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of eruption
Noun
  • There, a terrified teenage girl would be filmed fleeing before she was consumed by a blinding flash of light and then found dead, bearing unexplained marks on her body.
    — Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The interruptions imitate the way an old relationship returns to you with a flash of potent sensation.
    — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of flash
Noun
  • On Monday, a blaze at a hotel in West Bengal’s temple town of Tarapith left at least seven people dead and several others critically injured.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Summary Wildfire smoke increasingly impacts homes far from blazes, affecting millions and posing significant cleanup and insurance challenges.
    — Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of blaze
Noun
  • The greatest risk from the storms will be from damaging winds and heavy downpours.
    — Rachael Jay, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The airport posted a handful of photos showing the aftermath of the storms.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of storm

Browse Nearby Words

galaxy
gale
galère
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gale. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on gale

Nglish: Translation of gale for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gale

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