as in floods
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms
the dam broke, unleashing a torrent down the dry riverbed
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Recent Examples of torrents
Lightning made the sky as bright as day, the thunder was a continuous crash, and torrents of rain poured down.
—
Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
According to experts, these homes encroach on a path that has carried torrents of water for centuries during periods of heavy rains.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
In 2017, soaking storms led to flooding that caused $100 million in damage in downtown San Jose and the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people when the spillway at Oroville Dam, the nation’s tallest dam, in Butte County, partially collapsed under torrents of water.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Without intervention, water flows off the steep slopes in torrents, rapidly stripping away soil.
—Stephen Acabado, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
The report alleges the scrape includes 256 million rows of track metadata and 86 million audio files, to be distributed on P2P networks in bulk torrents totaling roughly 300 terabytes.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 21 Dec. 2025
Officials have conducted dozens of water rescues as debris and mudslides have closed highways and raging torrents have washed out roads and bridges.
—CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025
Hundreds of people remain missing – likely washed away in rapid torrents of floodwater or buried beneath thick mud and debris.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 Dec. 2025
Helene dumped 30 inches of rain in Transylvania County, where the bridge is located, creating torrents of debris that slammed bridges for days.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 4 Dec. 2025
Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
According to experts, these homes encroach on a path that has carried torrents of water for centuries during periods of heavy rains.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
In 2017, soaking storms led to flooding that caused $100 million in damage in downtown San Jose and the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people when the spillway at Oroville Dam, the nation’s tallest dam, in Butte County, partially collapsed under torrents of water.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Without intervention, water flows off the steep slopes in torrents, rapidly stripping away soil.
—Stephen Acabado, The Conversation, 15 Jan. 2026
The report alleges the scrape includes 256 million rows of track metadata and 86 million audio files, to be distributed on P2P networks in bulk torrents totaling roughly 300 terabytes.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 21 Dec. 2025
Officials have conducted dozens of water rescues as debris and mudslides have closed highways and raging torrents have washed out roads and bridges.
—CBS News, 13 Dec. 2025
Hundreds of people remain missing – likely washed away in rapid torrents of floodwater or buried beneath thick mud and debris.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 6 Dec. 2025
Helene dumped 30 inches of rain in Transylvania County, where the bridge is located, creating torrents of debris that slammed bridges for days.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 4 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torrents
floods
Noun
-
When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The new Sky View panoramic roof—a single unbroken pane of glass running from the B-pillar all the way to the rear—floods the cabin with light and creates a sense of openness.—
Sean Evans,
Robb Report,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torrents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torrents. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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