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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As a skin care ingredient, hyaluronic acid floods withered, thirsty skin with moisture, thereby smoothing the appearance of fine lines.—
Sophie Wirt,
InStyle,
10 June 2026
-
When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
9 June 2026
Noun
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The initial system, named Eos, serves as a large-scale prototype designed to achieve steady-state fusion and test structural integrity under real operational loads.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
10 June 2026
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Einride's proprietary optimization software, Saga AI, is also being used to manage EV execution of select Amazon loads, including charging planning.—
Eric Rosenbaum,
CNBC,
10 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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Across fixtures which mirror the opening half-a-dozen matches of the first team’s Champions League campaign, Newcastle were defeated on every occasion.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
12 Dec. 2025
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More than a dozen Washington rivers were expected to experience major flooding from Wednesday through Friday, according to the National Weather Service.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The world now produces over 500 million tons annually - roughly the combined weight of every person on Earth.—
Lisa Emili,
The Conversation,
16 June 2026
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Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the Counter-Disinformation Center operating as part of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said that the Moscow refinery is one of the country's largest, with a refining capacity of around 11 million tons of oil per year.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Small amounts of vegetable oils can be added to compost piles, but animal fats should be avoided.—
Katlyn Moncada,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Dec. 2025
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Therapist Jayme Kolbo spends time helping people who are stuck with piles and often stuck in their homes.—
Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield,
CBS News,
10 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Morgan and Tilis have other potential extensions to sort out over the next few months, as cornerback Mike Jackson and quarterback Bryce Young are among potential candidates for new deals.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2026
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The list below includes the best deals on residential real estate priced between $300,000 and $3,000,000.—
Bay Area Home Report,
Mercury News,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
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 18 Jun. 2026.
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