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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
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
Noun
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Extreme floods that once swamped coastal communities only rarely are becoming far more common as climate change caused by humans pushes sea levels higher, according to new research.—
Alexa St. John,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
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Gulf Coast states already dealing with massive floods are bracing for even more extreme weather as the first tropical storm of the season could form as early as Tuesday night.—
Kenton Gewecke,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Noun
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As one of Montana’s longest standing dude ranches, the property is constantly reimagining through refined design, a wildly impressive staff, and heaps of annual events bringing loads of travelers, from local to first-time ranchers alike.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
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At Cattlemen’s, still newish from its $3 million remodeling, the menu leads with a 2-pound porterhouse ($95) and loads of Western steakhouse character.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
Noun
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Heavy rainfall in the area caused torrents and increased the risk of landslides, making rescue operations more difficult, state media said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
-
Spring rains and winter snowmelt have swelled rivers and lakes, forcing torrents of water through Cheboygan County communities on its way to Lake Huron.—
Sarah Brumfield,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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About three dozen employees, by Caceres' estimate, made their way to the parking lot on one side of the facility.—
Madisen Keavy,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
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At least a dozen upcoming Catalan animation titles bid fair for international sales.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Noun
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This isn’t the place for people who prefer resorts that provide tons of entertainment.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
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In fact, millions of tons remain unaccounted for.—
Lisa Emili,
The Conversation,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Burnham’s victory piles pressure on Starmer to quit Burnham will head to London to be sworn in as a lawmaker as soon as Monday.—
Kwiyeon Ha,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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This post was originally published on June 18 Bitcoin has struggled this year as the artificial intelligence investment boom piles pressure on crypto (even as BlackRock issues a massive $9 trillion prediction).—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Noun
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Even though the official start of the sale is still a few weeks away, Amazon has launched a few early-bird deals, including plenty of savings on Apple iPads, AirPods, and Watches.—
Cierra Cowan,
PC Magazine,
18 June 2026
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For a service built on impulse viewing, telco deals buy instant reach and built-in billing in price-sensitive markets where persuading users to sign up directly can be hard.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
Noun
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Businesses in Geneva were boarded up and hundreds of riot police were deployed in the streets over concerns about violence.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
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New York City exploded with joy on Saturday night, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets after the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA finals.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spates. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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