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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Any storms that do pop up on the stronger side won’t last more than an hour. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026 Damaging winds will be the primary threat with these storms, and the NWS can’t rule out the possibility of a tornado. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
That film’s formal rigor, matched with the horror of the live news reports as the situation stormed out of control, accentuated the incident’s brutality and bigotry. — Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026 Allen, of Torrance, California, is accused of storming the WHCA dinner while armed with guns and knives and firing a shotgun at a Secret Service officer who tried to stop the April 25, 2026, attack at the Washington Hilton hotel. — ABC News, 29 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
  • While the plane was near Florida’s Gulf Coast, less than 20 minutes before the crash, an air traffic controller warned that the turn they’d requested toward the Bahamas could take them into a thunderstorm.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Neither Monville nor Chapman could say whether the jet flew through an active thunderstorm prior to the aircraft's rapid descent and crash.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 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
  • Beijing has hosted a flurry of global leaders this year, while major economies have struggled to slow a surge of imports from China.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Instead, the late-breaking 9th Circuit decisions spurred a flurry of confusion and conjecture just hours before polls were set to open in the country’s most populous state.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 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
  • Deoleo's Valdés told CNBC in July that the period between 2022 and 2024 was one of the most challenging periods for the sector, but that prices are now stabilizing due to favourable rain trends.
    — Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
  • And while this could never have been planned—even by the considerable talents of the creative couple and their multiple event teams—the risk of rain was rewarded by an incredible sight.
    — Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of rain
Noun
  • Iranian state media reported explosions being heard on the islands of Qeshm and Hengam in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and in the nearby mainland area of Bandar Abbas.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026
  • In August, 38 people were killed when a Russian drone strike on an ammunition depot near the capital triggered a large fire and multiple explosions that lasted hours in a residential area near Kyiv.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of explosion
Noun
  • Tennessee is 7-34 since the beginning of the 2024 season and has seen constant upheaval throughout the organization.
    — Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Yormark’s hiring at the Big 12 marked a broader shift in how college conferences have approached leadership amid unprecedented financial and structural upheaval.
    — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of upheaval
Verb
  • The war has cast a shadow on Persian Gulf nations that have long presented themselves as paragons of stability in a volatile region, mostly unaffected by the conflicts raging in the wider Middle East.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The war had been raging for more than four years by then, with heavy tolls on all sides.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Nov. 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 7 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on storm

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about storm

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