storm 1 of 2

noun

ˈstȯrm How to pronounce storm (audio)
Definition of stormnext
1
as in thunderstorm
a disturbance of the atmosphere accompanied by wind and often by precipitation (as rain or snow) a winter storm bringing about six inches of snow

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in barrage
a heavy fall of objects police had to endure a storm of rocks and bricks hurled by the rioters

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in flurry
a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once the army's spokesperson faced a storm of questions from reporters

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity a few minutes of calm before the storm, when the store would open its doors on the busiest day of the year

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in rain
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity the storm caused major damage to our barn

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in explosion
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling a storm of indignation and demands for his resignation arose when the mayor's dishonesty was exposed

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7
as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) civil wars and other storms of unrest swept through the African continent

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storm

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rage
to express one's anger usually violently the chef spent the morning storming at his staff about the ruined sauces

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to rain
to fall as water in a continuous stream of drops from the clouds it storms so frequently up in the mountains that the peaks are rarely visible from the valley below

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to attack
to take sudden, violent action against the pirates stormed the ship, easily taking the whole crew as their prisoners

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to steam
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger by the time we arrived, our hostess was storming because dinner was ruined

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb storm contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of storm are assail, assault, attack, and bombard. While all these words mean "to make an onslaught upon," storm implies attempting to break into a defended position.

preparing to storm the fortress

When might assail be a better fit than storm?

While in some cases nearly identical to storm, assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots.

assailed the enemy with artillery fire

Where would assault be a reasonable alternative to storm?

In some situations, the words assault and storm are roughly equivalent. However, assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught.

commandos assaulted the building from all sides

When would attack be a good substitute for storm?

The words attack and storm can be used in similar contexts, but attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

plan to attack the town at dawn

When can bombard be used instead of storm?

The words bombard and storm are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells.

bombarded the city nightly

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 storm
Noun
Another storm system later this week could bring Los Angeles its first rainy Halloween since 2014. — Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026 The Met Office began naming major storms in 2015 as a way to keep the public informed about severe weather. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Verb
In 2006, the Charger stormed the market as a rubber-burning full-size sedan that gained muscle over the years, culminating in a 797-horsepower variant. — Matt Degen, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Compton, likely inspired by David Fincher’s 2008 movie, moves Benjamin Button’s birth year to 1918 (a hero’s gotta storm the beach at Normandy) and his birth place to a coastal village in Cornwall. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for storm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for storm
  1. thunderstorm
  2. barrage
  3. flurry
  4. commotion
  5. rain
  6. explosion
  7. upheaval
  8. rage
Noun
  • The National Weather Service in Flagstaff didn’t issue a tornado warning before impact, but issued a severe thunderstorm warning after radar suggests the tornado was already on the ground.
    — Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Rain was falling as a thunderstorm moved through Dellona at the time of the crash.
    — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of thunderstorm
Noun
  • Anyone with a public platform or a controversial opinion has likely faced an online barrage of abuse, often more than once.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • With a major election less than a week away, candidates and their consultants are pounding Floridians with a barrage of words — some intended to cast themselves in a flattering light, some intended to smear and degrade their opponents.
    — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of barrage
Noun
  • Prop 1’s complexity has led to a flurry of competing TV ads interpreting it in opposite ways.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The executive order was quickly met with a flurry of lawsuits, which resulted in a preliminary injunction blocking the USPS from enforcing any new rules in response to Trump’s order.
    — Philip Wang, Time, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of flurry
Noun
  • In the commotion, she was briefly separated from her 85-year-old mother, who lives with her.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That allowed passengers to hear the commotion and discover what was happening.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of commotion
Noun
  • Strangely, however, does tend to move a little bit more in the rain, Woods says.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2026
  • In the days leading up to the wedding, there was a stretch of rain, but thankfully, the skies cleared just in time for the celebrations.
    — Alexandra Macon, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of rain
Noun
  • Using the Gemini North telescope, Caiazzo and colleagues zoomed in on Pa 30, discovering knots along the strands of gas radiating out from the site of the cosmic explosion, like pearls on a string.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The explosion was set off in front of the local branch of Colombia's tax collection agency near the Francisco de Paula de Santander International bridge.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of explosion
Noun
  • Law enforcement was heavily deployed to contain potential upheaval, but there were no new episodes of looting on Saturday, when about 10,000 protesters gathered in a peaceful demonstration in Milan.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Then, during our planet’s infancy, volcanic upheaval and deep-earth alchemy created more than a thousand new minerals.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of upheaval
Verb
  • There’s just enough teasing to allow the Elriel and the Gwynriel wars to keep raging for a few months.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Elsewhere, the war rages on A Russian drone strike on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv overnight wounded five people, including a 4-year-old child, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of rage

Browse Nearby Words

storing
storm
storm cellar
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Cite this Entry

“Storm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/storm. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on storm

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about storm

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