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spates

noun

plural of spate
1
as in floods
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms a spate of words has been published on this controversial topic

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in loads
a considerable amount an off-color remark that drew a spate of complaints from TV viewers

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 spates Markets also have been wavering from spates of heavy selling of stocks in companies linked to the boom in artificial intelligence. — ABC News, 10 June 2026 When spates of violence like that occur, Norman said the department increases patrols in that area, drawing on resources from outside the area to do so. — David Clarey, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spates
  1. floods
  2. loads
  3. torrents
  4. dozens
  5. tons
  6. piles
  7. deals
  8. hundreds
Noun
  • The island of Maui could also be hit with life-threatening floods and mudslides, the hurricane center said.
    — MEGAN JANETSKY, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Heat is the deadliest natural disaster event — a silent killer that claims more lives each year than hurricanes, tornadoes and floods combined.
    — Maria Hadden, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of floods
Noun
  • If those loads would also have gone through a dryer, the savings grow even more.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026
  • How to reduce water usage when doing laundry Only run full loads.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of loads
Noun
  • Like the groves and gardens, houses built foolhardily near the dry summertime river risked being pulled off their foundations and washed away by the winter torrents.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • This included one on Reddit about torrents on the site 1337x —which is frequently used for online piracy— delivering an executable file, rather than a media file.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of torrents
Noun
  • The issue of whether or not Kalshi and Polymarket’s sports offerings are legal is being hotly litigated in dozens of states and, so far, courts are for the most part ruling against the company.
    — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Several of his dozens of accusers were in court on Wednesday.
    — MICHAEL R. SISAK, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of dozens
Noun
  • The country plans to expand LNG capacity from 77 million tons per year to 142 million by 2030, and duplicating that infrastructure isn’t feasible.
    — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Every year, more than 350 million tons of PET plastic waste are generated globally.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of tons
Noun
  • But large companies with cash piles and longer-term debt can avoid experiencing some of that pain in the near term.
    — Alex Harring, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026
  • At the pupae stage, they can be easily sorted into piles of males and females.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of piles
Noun
  • In cities like Atlanta, inking deals can rely on knowing the right people or on multigenerational relationships.
    — Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The $390 billion investment firm has 10 staff in its new ADGM office covering deals and investor relations, and is targeting education, healthcare, and infrastructure investments in the region.
    — Kelsey Warner, semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of deals
Noun
  • The approach can potentially work with samples containing only tens or hundreds of atoms, dramatically reducing the amount of material required compared with conventional NMR.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Sports organizations invest hundreds of millions of dollars in recruiting children, Buckland says.
    — Alexandra Pattillo, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of hundreds

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Cite this Entry

“Spates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spates. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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