Synonyms of storm

storm 1 of 2

noun

ˈstȯrm 

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

• thunderstorm
• hurricane
• blizzard
• cyclone
• tempest
• weather
• squall
• typhoon
• snowstorm
• rainstorm
• windstorm
• hailstorm
• ice storm
• cloudburst
• northeaster
• thundershower
• norther
• sandstorm
• southeaster
• rainsquall
• southwester

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

• barrage
• hail
• rain
• flood
• shower
• torrent
• volley
• bombardment
• outbreak
• cannonade
• salvo
• eruption
• fusillade
• rush
• broadside
• spate
• outburst
• gush

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• barrage
• flurry
• hail
• flood
• bombardment
• volley
• torrent
• tide
• shower
• cannonade
• salvo
• fusillade
• blitzkrieg
• drumbeat
• blitz
• surge
• drumfire
• avalanche
• rash
• inundation
• outflow
• deluge
• outpouring
• stream
• flood tide
• river
• overflow
• outburst
• burst
• cataract
• spate
• cataclysm
• current
• engulfment
• surplus
• gush
• broadside
• glut
• earful
• discharge
• excess
• flush
• oversupply
• overkill
• overabundance
• surfeit
• overage
• superabundance
• superfluity
• overmuch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• drip
• trickle
• dribble

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• commotion
• disturbance
• stir
• hurricane
• hurry
• turmoil
• fuss
• noise
• racket
• clatter
• to-do
• row
• squall
• zoo
• fun
• clutter
• coil
• hoopla
• bustle
• roar
• pandemonium
• ruckus
• tumult
• hubbub
• rumpus
• furore
• hullabaloo
• ado
• ruction
• furor
• kerfuffle
• flurry
• bother
• upheaval
• uproar
• bluster
• ballyhoo
• pother
• bobbery
• blather
• stew
• whirl
• shindy
• splore
• hurry-scurry
• welter
• helter-skelter
• moil
• hurly-burly
• foofaraw
• hoo-ha
• unrest
• hubble-bubble
• hurly
• alarums and excursions
• outcry
• eruption
• din
• williwaw
• disorder
• howl
• cacophony
• outbreak
• clamor
• hue and cry
• do
• outburst
• brawl
• fever
• flutter
• scuffle
• melee
• fray
• tizzy
• fracas
• fret
• flare-up
• lather
• dither
• hassle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rest
• peace
• calm
• stillness
• quiet
• hush
• tranquility
• order
• quietude
• orderliness

5

as in rain

a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity

the storm caused major damage to our barn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rain
• rainfall
• rainstorm
• downpour
• deluge
• thunderstorm
• wet
• cloudburst
• precipitation
• weather
• shower
• downfall
• thundershower

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mist
• drizzle
• spit
• sprinkle
• scud
• mizzle

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• explosion
• burst
• eruption
• outburst
• gale
• gust
• blaze
• flash
• flare
• frenzy
• spasm
• flush
• agony
• paroxysm
• fit
• gush
• ebullition
• flare-up
• rage
• tantrum
• rapture
• transport
• firestorm
• ecstasy
• delirium
• blowup
• furor
• grouch

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• upheaval
• earthquake
• unrest
• revolution
• tempest
• insurrection
• revolt
• uprising
• convulsion
• turmoil
• tumult
• rebellion
• cataclysm
• mutiny
• paroxysm
• stir
• eruption
• uproar
• insurgency
• upset
• overthrow
• bouleversement
• commotion
• outbreak
• subversion
• outburst
• seizure
• to-do
• squall
• spasm
• coil
• bustle
• row
• pandemonium
• ruckus
• trembling
• rocking
• fit
• hubbub
• overturn
• rout
• shaking
• quaking
• furor
• rumpus
• bobbery
• furore
• flare-up
• bluster
• hullabaloo
• stew
• shindy
• ruction
• hurly-burly
• welter
• fuss
• williwaw

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rage
• rampage
• steam
• run amok
• rave
• fume
• bristle
• make a scene
• fret
• foam
• flare (up)
• bluster
• burn
• rant
• blow up
• stew
• carry on
• flip (out)
• take on
• fulminate
• seethe
• smolder
• chafe

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• check
• soothe
• collect
• restrain
• appease
• tone (down)
• allay
• curb
• temper
• contain
• swallow
• suppress
• compose
• subdue
• choke (back)
• moderate
• pacify
• stifle
• repress
• ease
• relax
• calm
• strangle
• rein
• cool
• smother
• settle
• quiet
• pocket
• hush
• quell
• let up
• still

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

• rain
• pour
• flood
• precipitate
• rain cats and dogs
• drown
• squall
• shower
• spit
• hail
• deluge
• engulf
• swamp
• inundate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mist
• spit
• drizzle
• sprinkle
• mizzle

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

• attack
• assault
• raid
• strike
• ambush
• charge
• set at
• turn (on)
• set upon
• set on
• swarm
• rush
• rob
• descend (on or upon)
• beset
• fly at
• jump (on)
• invade
• assail
• tear into
• round on
• trash
• pounce (on or upon)
• mob
• pitch into
• go in (on)
• bushwhack
• sic
• surprise
• beat up on
• barrage
• go at
• light into
• bomb
• sack
• blitz
• flank
• nuke
• besiege
• gang up (on)
• ravage
• batter
• waylay
• plunder
• loot
• cannon
• bum-rush
• buffet
• mug
• cannonade
• bombard
• foray
• harry
• pillage
• plaster
• ambuscade
• overrun
• envelop
• bang away (at)
• press
• beleaguer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• protect
• cover
• secure
• defend
• guard
• shield

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

• steam
• rage
• burn
• foam
• boil
• shake
• fume
• seethe
• see red
• sizzle
• agitate
• rave
• rant
• rankle
• flare (up)
• stew
• inflame
• bristle
• fulminate
• smolder
• fret
• chafe
• convulse
• roil

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

Recent Examples of storm

Noun

Historically, the Atlantic basin has usually seen three or four named storms by now, with one of those becoming a hurricane. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2026

In June, the White House asked Congress to approve more than $80 billion in emergency supplemental funding for military operations, Ebola response efforts, agricultural assistance and Florida storm recovery. — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Verb

Spain erected a 1,600-foot sea barrier off Ceuta after tens of thousands of migrants stormed the frontier, a deadly rush that left at least 67 dead. — Sergio Rodrigo Ruíz, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2026

Moroccan forces beat back crowds with batons and tear gas at the gates to Ceuta, trying to prevent more from storming across into the tiny Spanish territory that juts on a spit of sandy land into the Mediterranean from Morocco. — Michael Francis Gore, USA Today, 31 July 2026