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
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
David Clarey, jsonline.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spates
Noun
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In addition to preserving natural ecosystems and the sustainable fisheries that depend on them, reefs may help to protect coastlines from storms and floods, which will become ever more urgent as climate change and rising sea levels give rise to more dangerous storms.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
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The death toll from heavy floods in central Vietnam has risen to 13, the government said Friday, as residents of the flooded city of Hoi An started cleanup operations as the water levels began to subside.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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All loads easier than wrangling an ungainly bird half the table doesn’t really much care for anyway (what?—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
31 Oct. 2025
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The value of walnuts spiked last year after cratering in the years prior, but relatively small loads of walnuts still sell for modest prices.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic’s steep terrain will force air upward, wringing out more moisture from the storm, just like squeezing a wet sponge, turning tropical humidity into torrents racing downhill.—
Chris Dolce,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
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The death of Banda Amidst the torrents, Arisu follows the sound of Usagi’s voice, as they are both swept towards a watery vortex that leads to the world of the dead.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Jones, who was a regular on the NBC sketch series from 2014 to 2019, was one of the dozens of former cast members who descended on Studio 8H for the epic evening.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Nov. 2025
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The brand offers dozens of high-quality sheets in cozy, breathable fabrics at wallet-friendly prices.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Sleeper will have tons of ways to make picks and build entries for the World Series.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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The head of the World Food Program in Cuba, Etienne Labande, said 617 tons of rice, beans and cooking oil were ready for distribution on the island.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Due to a nationwide internet shutdown it's been difficult to get information from the ground, but videos circulated by rights groups show piles of corpses and young protesters with bullet wounds.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
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On the other, the ability for bad actors to exploit those ballooning piles of data has grown in tandem.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Wayfair’s Wayday sale may be over, but there are still deals to be found sitewide on seasonal décor, furniture, rugs, and more.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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Fall is the perfect season to take advantage of cooler temperatures and spend some time in nature—and REI’s early Black Friday sale is teeming with travel-ready deals that will majorly upgrade your adventures without breaking the bank.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In a bid to deliver a quick turnaround, the new top executive initiated a plan to close hundreds of stores, or about 1% of its locations, in the United States and Canada.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
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The shutdown has resulted in the interruption of SNAP benefits for millions of Americans and hundreds of thousands of federal employees furloughed or working without pay.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spates. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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