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
  • At the same time, the world’s 10 hottest years on record have all happened since 2015, and Americans across the country are experiencing climate change in worsening storms, riskier floods and fires, extreme heat and drought.
    — Joe Árvai, The Conversation, 22 July 2026
  • Despite minimal carbon footprints, children there endure routine droughts, floods, and landslides, disrupting essential services like schools and health clinics.
    — Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of floods
Noun
  • Transformers require specialized vehicles and heavy-duty trailers capable of carrying oversized loads.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 18 July 2026
  • Flawless routines and loads of amenities were once seen as the ultimate pillars of hospitality.
    — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026
Definition of loads
Noun
  • Most of the deaths were in Hengzhou, where the partial collapse of a reservoir dam sent torrents of water into the city and claimed 26 lives, said Ding Wei, the vice mayor of Nanning city, which has jurisdiction over the area.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
  • One significant problem, however, is that red dwarfs spit out harmful torrents of radiation in fierce gusts of their stellar winds, which can strip away a planet's atmosphere.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of torrents
Noun
  • Miami officials have agreed to spend up to $150 million to lease dozens of new city vehicles — from street sweepers to motorcycles and ambulances — to address the city’s aging fleet.
    — Tess Riski July 24, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
  • While The Athletic spoke to a dozen sources around the league for this story, almost all refused to comment for publication, even anonymously.
    — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of dozens
Noun
  • Federal prosecutors accuse Maduro and Flores of conspiring with drug cartels to facilitate the flow of thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States.
    — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 22 July 2026
  • Six Boeing 767 airlifts have carried 295 tons of relief supplies into the country.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of tons
Noun
  • While baking soda is famously good at deodorizing smelly things, adding salt to compost piles can interrupt the composting process.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 July 2026
  • Instead, there would be an uptick in compound disasters, as one extreme piles upon another.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Definition of piles
Noun
  • The valid lens through which to compare these deals is whose new club needs them most.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith signed deals that topped their respective positions; Josh Simmons is a first-round pick; and Kingsley Suamataia is a second-rounder.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026
Definition of deals
Noun
  • In addition to the startling experience of touching the remains of an animal that lived hundreds of millions of years ago, contact with the Mastodonsaurus offers an opportunity to reflect on the future, those involved in the project said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
  • As artificial intelligence expands across K-12 schools, Massachusetts announced a new $500,000 public-private investment in AI applied learning opportunities for hundreds of students, the Healey-Driscoll administration announced Tuesday.
    — Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 22 July 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 24 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of spates for Spanish Speakers

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