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

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

For people living along the coast, sand also defends against intense storms and sea level rise fueled by climate change. —Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026

That the Apollo program saw no space weather mishaps is largely a result of luck—a massive solar storm in August 1972, right between the Apollo 16 and Apollo 17 missions, would have posed grave hazards for any astronauts in deep space at the time. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2026

Verb

Swayman got plenty busy at the start of the second when the Wild stormed the B’s zone. —Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026

The margin grew to 45-21 early in the second quarter before the Clippers stormed back for their fourth straight victory, giving Coach Tyronn Lue the 400th win of his career. —Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026