1
as in thunderstorms
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
Relevance
2
as in rains
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 barrages
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 disturbances
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 rainstorms
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity
the storm caused major damage to our barn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in explosions
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
7
as in upheavals
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
1
as in rages
to express one's anger usually violently
the chef spent the morning storming at his staff about the ruined sauces
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pours
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 attacks
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 steams
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
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 storms
Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Organizations recommend checking their websites or contacting them directly before donating items, as storage space and immediate needs can change rapidly during winter storms.
—Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 27 Jan. 2026
Check your portable heating devices Space heaters are a great way to keep your home warm during storms like this weekend’s.
—Morayo Ogunbayo, AJC.com, 27 Jan. 2026
In fact, many of the strongest solar storms on record have occurred during this milder phase, but the likelihood of witnessing a powerful, naked-eye-visible aurora is especially high right now, given the sun’s tumultuousness.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 27 Jan. 2026
Then, storms in the winter of 2022-23 triggered the first of two major landslides that kicked off the roadway’s subsequent three-year closure.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Winter storms accounted for 23% of those outages.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Fox notes winter is usually the slowest time of the year — except when there are storms.
—Nikki Dementri, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Severe radiation storms increase exposure risks for astronauts and for airline crews and passengers flying along polar routes, where Earth's magnetic shielding is weaker.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026
Venita then storms out rather than talk to Salley and confront it.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026
Rebecca storms off without another word.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
Over the last decade, a slew of studies have found strong evidence that climate change makes stronger, wetter storms more powerful.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Koko storms off and spends the rest of the evening moping about the interaction.
—Jihan Forbes, Allure, 29 Oct. 2025
But as Polarity storms through the door, sending shockwaves through the room, Marie is freed from Godolkin’s grasp.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
Kyle storms off and vows to find whoever is responsible.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
If at all possible, things get even worse when another group of men storms the house, claiming to be police.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
Airport workers were digging out of feet-high snow drifts and de-icing equipment after one of the most powerful winter storms in years, which led to the largest cancellation day for air travel since March 2020 on Sunday.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Organizations recommend checking their websites or contacting them directly before donating items, as storage space and immediate needs can change rapidly during winter storms.
—Cheyenne Derksen, Oklahoman, 27 Jan. 2026
Check your portable heating devices Space heaters are a great way to keep your home warm during storms like this weekend’s.
—Morayo Ogunbayo, AJC.com, 27 Jan. 2026
In fact, many of the strongest solar storms on record have occurred during this milder phase, but the likelihood of witnessing a powerful, naked-eye-visible aurora is especially high right now, given the sun’s tumultuousness.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 27 Jan. 2026
Then, storms in the winter of 2022-23 triggered the first of two major landslides that kicked off the roadway’s subsequent three-year closure.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Winter storms accounted for 23% of those outages.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Fox notes winter is usually the slowest time of the year — except when there are storms.
—Nikki Dementri, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Severe radiation storms increase exposure risks for astronauts and for airline crews and passengers flying along polar routes, where Earth's magnetic shielding is weaker.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
That turns out to be a mistake, since a commando team soon storms his island with orders to kill him on sight.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026
Venita then storms out rather than talk to Salley and confront it.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026
Rebecca storms off without another word.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
Over the last decade, a slew of studies have found strong evidence that climate change makes stronger, wetter storms more powerful.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Koko storms off and spends the rest of the evening moping about the interaction.
—Jihan Forbes, Allure, 29 Oct. 2025
But as Polarity storms through the door, sending shockwaves through the room, Marie is freed from Godolkin’s grasp.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025
Kyle storms off and vows to find whoever is responsible.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
If at all possible, things get even worse when another group of men storms the house, claiming to be police.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for storms
Noun
-
Winter cold and rains as well as malnutrition are still killing people in Gaza, despite the ceasefire being in its fourth month.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Officials speculated that heavy rains this winter are producing more death cap mushrooms than normal, particularly in Northern California.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In recent weeks, the relentless barrages have damaged some of Ukraine’s protected world heritage sites in Odesa, the western city of Lviv and the capital, Kyiv, UNESCO said Tuesday.—
Kamila Hrabchuk,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The fighting included fighter jet sorties, exchanges of rocket fire and artillery barrages.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Drinking has been found to increase the risk of many cancers, metabolic dysfunction, gut microbiome disturbances and mitochondrial toxins, Hyman said.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
However, these components proved too vulnerable to the extreme conditions, including intense shock waves and aerodynamic disturbances at low altitudes.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In addition to tremors emanating from within the planet, these sensors detect explosions, traffic vibrations and even the vocalizations made by whales in the oceans.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Ultimately, however, the shuttle flew a total of 135 missions with two explosions, resulting in 14 total casualties.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These are among the many questions posed by Simon Morrison’s sprawling biography of place, which seeks to understand a nation through the life of its largest city, tracing Moscow’s evolution via dozens of historical upheavals, from war, famine, drought, and much, much more.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Evans’ historic eight terms as the first Black chief judge saw the county through reforms, changes and upheavals including the elimination of cash bail and the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To this day, the wave of violence rages on in Sinaloa and other states where the cartel has influence.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
-
War rages on The election has been widely dismissed by international observers and governments as illegitimate.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Is a taboo crossed when someone attacks?—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune, inflammatory form of arthritis, meaning a person’s immune system attacks their joints, causing substantial inflammation.—
Kevin Deane,
The Conversation,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Then, Lim steams the breastmilk in an espresso machine before adding the matcha into the drink.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Humidity often corrodes cables and steams camera lenses.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Storms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/storms. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
