as in rains
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity
we ran into a big rainstorm on Highway 6, and the visibility was so poor we had to pull over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 rainstorms
At the same time, a warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor, which is then released in fewer, more extreme rainstorms.
—
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The rainstorms are rolling across the Everglades, but most of the showers are drying out before reaching the metroplex.
—Scott Withers, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Now, with back-to-back rainstorms bearing down on the Bay Area, officials this week are racing to seal the gaping hole and protect the historic Great Lick Refractor telescope beneath it.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
The rescue comes after intense rainstorms resulted in flooding in multiple areas of the island, KHON reported.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
That’s bad news for the program, which is in $22 billion of debt, plus faces rising costs to insure flood prone homes as climate change raises sea levels and intensifies rainstorms.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
That leads to more extreme rainstorms and snowstorms, changing river flows and altering ecosystems.
—Matthew L. Druckenmiller, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025
Zippers and clasps are built to stand up to daily use—mine has even encountered a few rainstorms—without losing shine or functionality.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
Mosquitoes need water to breed, so limit standing water around your home by cleaning gutters and downspouts, removing leaves from low-lying areas and draining dishes under flower pots after rainstorms.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The rainstorms are rolling across the Everglades, but most of the showers are drying out before reaching the metroplex.
—Scott Withers, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Now, with back-to-back rainstorms bearing down on the Bay Area, officials this week are racing to seal the gaping hole and protect the historic Great Lick Refractor telescope beneath it.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
The rescue comes after intense rainstorms resulted in flooding in multiple areas of the island, KHON reported.
—Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025
That’s bad news for the program, which is in $22 billion of debt, plus faces rising costs to insure flood prone homes as climate change raises sea levels and intensifies rainstorms.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Dec. 2025
That leads to more extreme rainstorms and snowstorms, changing river flows and altering ecosystems.
—Matthew L. Druckenmiller, The Conversation, 16 Dec. 2025
Zippers and clasps are built to stand up to daily use—mine has even encountered a few rainstorms—without losing shine or functionality.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
Mosquitoes need water to breed, so limit standing water around your home by cleaning gutters and downspouts, removing leaves from low-lying areas and draining dishes under flower pots after rainstorms.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rainstorms
Noun
-
But the recent rains do mean that soils remain wet, which can leave trees more vulnerable to high winds and hillsides more vulnerable to rockfalls and slides.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The hotter temperatures are sparking changes in precipitation—rainier rains and drier droughts.—
Amy Green,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Fox notes winter is usually the slowest time of the year — except when there are storms.—
Nikki DeMentri,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Southern states like Alabama and New Mexico already caught glimpses earlier this week, proving that stronger storms can defy expectations.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rainstorms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rainstorms. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
