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
Lisa Meadows, CBS News, 12 May 2026
So that may be kind of the most acute pain point for travelers, but the summer storms are still going to be coming.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Southern summers can be unforgiving, with unexpected storms followed by bouts of humidity.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
Keep them protected from windy storms or heavy rain.
—Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 12 May 2026
Brandon Miller breaks down severe storms moving through the Florida Panhandle.
—Angela Fritz, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
These storms may represent the last of SoCal’s rainy season, which typically ends in April.
—Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Blanche says on Monday that the noises correspond with the time the suspect allegedly storms the Secret Service security checkpoint on the floor above the ballroom.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
Inflamed by Ratansen’s adviser’s account of Padmavati’s beauty, Alauddin Khalji storms the fortress by treachery rather than valor.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
But in the moment, no one seems more upset by the confession than Rachel, who storms away despite her prior promises not to judge.
—Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
Her humiliation is laid bare for everyone in the room — the Easter brunch has gone totally awry — and Ines storms out at the end of her performance.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
High pressure also spins clockwise, deflecting moisture and storms off to the north and keeping dry air underneath it.
—Zoe Mintz, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
But the deeper wound comes after Bree storms out.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
God storms American politics Single-day general admission tickets are $145, while weekend passes are $249 and weekend VIP passes are $409.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
Cloud cover will increase as the day rolls on, with a late chance for showers or storms.
—Lisa Meadows, CBS News, 12 May 2026
So that may be kind of the most acute pain point for travelers, but the summer storms are still going to be coming.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Southern summers can be unforgiving, with unexpected storms followed by bouts of humidity.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
Keep them protected from windy storms or heavy rain.
—Peg Aloi, The Spruce, 12 May 2026
Brandon Miller breaks down severe storms moving through the Florida Panhandle.
—Angela Fritz, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
These storms may represent the last of SoCal’s rainy season, which typically ends in April.
—Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
The plot is based around a routine jury site visit that turns deadly when a mercenary kill team led by Hewitt (Adkins) storms the location in search of a secret ledger detailing citywide corruption.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 May 2026
Blanche says on Monday that the noises correspond with the time the suspect allegedly storms the Secret Service security checkpoint on the floor above the ballroom.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
Inflamed by Ratansen’s adviser’s account of Padmavati’s beauty, Alauddin Khalji storms the fortress by treachery rather than valor.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
But in the moment, no one seems more upset by the confession than Rachel, who storms away despite her prior promises not to judge.
—Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
Her humiliation is laid bare for everyone in the room — the Easter brunch has gone totally awry — and Ines storms out at the end of her performance.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
High pressure also spins clockwise, deflecting moisture and storms off to the north and keeping dry air underneath it.
—Zoe Mintz, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
But the deeper wound comes after Bree storms out.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
God storms American politics Single-day general admission tickets are $145, while weekend passes are $249 and weekend VIP passes are $409.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for storms
Noun
-
About 100,000 thunderstorms rumble across the United States each year, but just 10% intensify into a severe thunderstorm, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.—
Chris Dolce,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Both are durable, standing up to the summer heat and rains, often lasting well into late fall or early winter.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
-
Spring rains also create pockets of moisture, which attract many types of insects.—
Kody Boye,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Iran’s drone barrages heavily depleted its expensive interceptor missile stockpiles.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
13 May 2026
-
Iran fired over 1,000 ballistic missiles at Israel and Gulf Arab states during the war, as well as barrages of drones.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Describes low pressure areas that move across the Atlantic and Caribbean – above the surface and not in the ocean – that the hurricane center watches for potential signs of development into tropical disturbances, depressions or storms.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
-
Police said their goal is to maintain the carnival's family-friendly atmosphere while preventing the types of disturbances seen elsewhere in the region.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Use of inert bombs – or bombs with a small yield – could explain the lack of a large explosions or secondary blasts that an explosive warhead could cause, analysts said.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
-
The first of these explosions was spotted in 2018, and only 14 have been detected since, leading to a solid mystery for astronomers.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
My mother reported her friends’ upheavals to me matter-of-factly.—
Jennifer Acker,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
-
In a season-long arc, Gallagher will play Rod Finlayson, a charismatic, uber-independent, capable yet unreliable figure, whose arrival at the Gibsons’ marina on his beloved boat sets up a sequence of upheavals that Alberg and Cassandra will have to grapple with.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The battle rages on between the Big Ten and SEC, as others start increasing the volume of their opinions.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
-
One is the degree to which criticism of the actions or existence of the State of Israel inevitably slides into antisemitism, a debate that rages on.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Hantavirus is a rare but deadly disease that attacks the lungs and is typically contracted by humans through inhalation of particles contaminated with the urine, feces or saliva of a wild rodent.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
Sebastian Gorka, the senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, said an immediate example would be for other countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran attacks commercial shipping.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Storms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/storms. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
