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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 1862 mega-floods were not from an El Niño but a piling-up of atmospheric rivers.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Pritchard will prioritize protecting the county’s farmland from floods and urban encroachment.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 15 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
  • Legitimate footage showed torrents of water sweeping through a valley.
    — Thor Benson, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Burn scars on the landscape wildfires rapidly funnel water into downslope torrents.
    — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of torrents
Noun
  • In my ideal world there would be dozens of essay collections by excellent writers (Choi is a poet) on culture and politics, technology and the evils of capitalism.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The letter says the signs will number about a dozen and will cost $7,000 each, or about $84,000 total.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of dozens
Noun
  • The company estimates that installed LNG capacity will need to reach 900 million tons per annum by 2035 to meet future demand.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
  • And while their estimate of a billion tons of water is much higher than what's believed to exist, Elvis and McDowell say finding additional water could extend a large city's lifespan.
    — Matthew Glasser, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of tons
Noun
  • Eventually, the firms dumped the valuable slag into waste piles and wrote off the metals inside.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Some T-shirts and hats were handed out, but players only briefly put them on before adding them to the piles some of them have at home.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of piles
Noun
  • Then be sure to read our roundups of the best telescope deals, along with our beginner's guide to observing the night sky with a manual telescope.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • One-year deals give ABC and Kimmel optionality, as soon as either side chooses to act on it.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of deals
Noun
  • Chinese researchers have outlined a future tank that could generate its own power and strike targets hundreds of miles away.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The 2,000-pound bombs have been employed by Israel on hundreds of occasions in Gaza and Lebanon, playing a significant role in the death toll of those conflicts.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 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 20 Sep. 2026.

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