as in bursts
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
the audience responded to the comedian's joke with gales of laughter
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 gales
Out in the ferocious gales of the North Sea, on the overcrowded routes of the Irish Sea and the English Channel, and off to the islands’ west, the wide Atlantic herself.
—
Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025
Such physical effects of wind are translatable; and so, most important of all, are the quarters from which the blasts or the breezes or the gales appear to come.
—Big Think, 18 Nov. 2025
Fifty years ago this month, the gales of November swallowed the SS Edmund Fitzgerald along with her crew of 29 men, one of the largest ships to go down on Lake Superior and the Great Lakes.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025
The threat of thunderstorms, gales, and violent lightning led to the cancellation of the final day of SailGP competition in Saint-Tropez.
—Andrew Rice, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Southern China also shuts down Southern China’s Hainan Island saw heavy rainfall and gales as the typhoon brushed past the island on Sunday.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 25 Aug. 2025
Strong winds were also a concern in areas where residents are accustomed to heavy rain, but not necessarily cyclone-strength gales.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
The front will have strong north to northeast winds behind it and prompt development of gales offshore of Tampico, Mexico through early Friday morning creating peak seas with 12- to 14-foot waves.
—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2025
Winter gales and ice were a constant threat.
—Marianne Mather, Chicago Tribune, 19 Dec. 2024
Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025
Such physical effects of wind are translatable; and so, most important of all, are the quarters from which the blasts or the breezes or the gales appear to come.
—Big Think, 18 Nov. 2025
Fifty years ago this month, the gales of November swallowed the SS Edmund Fitzgerald along with her crew of 29 men, one of the largest ships to go down on Lake Superior and the Great Lakes.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025
The threat of thunderstorms, gales, and violent lightning led to the cancellation of the final day of SailGP competition in Saint-Tropez.
—Andrew Rice, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
Southern China also shuts down Southern China’s Hainan Island saw heavy rainfall and gales as the typhoon brushed past the island on Sunday.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 25 Aug. 2025
Strong winds were also a concern in areas where residents are accustomed to heavy rain, but not necessarily cyclone-strength gales.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 4 Mar. 2025
The front will have strong north to northeast winds behind it and prompt development of gales offshore of Tampico, Mexico through early Friday morning creating peak seas with 12- to 14-foot waves.
—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2025
Winter gales and ice were a constant threat.
—Marianne Mather, Chicago Tribune, 19 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gales
Noun
-
This chain reaction — a photoelectric feedback loop — produces intense radiation bursts of X-rays and gamma rays that can reach deep space.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Try setting a timer for yourself and seeing how much you can get done in quick bursts (with breaks in between, of course).—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Multiple explosions were heard in Tehran, with blasts lighting up the sky and turning it orange, according to reports from the Iranian capital.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Grainy black-and-white videos show explosions destroying Iran’s ships, missiles and missile launchers.—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Meteorologists say storms could be capable of producing large hail, damaging wind gusts and possibly a tornado or two, particularly across areas north of Interstate 20 closer to the Red River during the evening hours.—
Michael Cuviello,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
For the Tehachapi Mountains, northeast winds 25 to 35 with gusts up to 50 mph.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But the sun is a relatively quiet star, and Earth's magnetic field is strong enough to protect our planet against those outbursts.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Dark skies will improve the chances of spotting any brief outbursts or brighter meteors.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
However, the eruptions grew stronger in the 1980s and 1990s, reaching heights of up to 75 feet and lasting over 90 minutes, before slowing down in the early 2000s.—
Munis Raza,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
-
There were a few eruptions over the following years, but the geyser was largely inactive.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This season has been an improvement and there have been more regular flashes of his quality, but this was always the most likely outcome.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Ayton showed flashes of his talent against the Knicks by being more engaged.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
It could be repurposed to heat atmospheric moisture in storms.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Summertime in the southeastern Caribbean offers excellent conditions for snorkeling and scuba, but June through November is hurricane season, marked by warmer, wetter weather, even when there are no major storms in sight.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gales. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
