as in surge
a very high, large wave in the ocean that is usually caused by an earthquake under the sea and that can cause great destruction when it reaches land
The coastline will suffer devastating damage if a tsunami ever hits it.
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Recent Examples of tsunami
Tech giants are about to face a tsunami of lawsuits, from parents, young users, states, schools, and others who have railed against children’s exposure to social media.
—
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
The devastating earthquake and tsunami of 2011 triggered the same kind of hoarding behavior, though apparently there were some actual disruptions in affected regions.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
The March 11, 2011, quake and tsunami destroyed cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, causing meltdowns at reactors 1, 2 and 3.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
Set against the backdrop of the city’s recovery from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the film traces the two women’s gradual reconciliation through their father’s photographs, exploring themes of loss, identity and the Filipino diaspora.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tsunami
Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
The devastating earthquake and tsunami of 2011 triggered the same kind of hoarding behavior, though apparently there were some actual disruptions in affected regions.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
The March 11, 2011, quake and tsunami destroyed cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, causing meltdowns at reactors 1, 2 and 3.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
Set against the backdrop of the city’s recovery from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the film traces the two women’s gradual reconciliation through their father’s photographs, exploring themes of loss, identity and the Filipino diaspora.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tsunami
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tsunami
Noun
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More than half of voters also expressed concerns about the impacts of data centers and the risks of the surge in AI use.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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The Miami Dolphins felt the running back surge last season with team MVP De’Von Achane, who rushed for 1,350 yards, which ranked fifth in the league.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On March 30, the water at Oahu's Ala Wai Boat Harbor, home to the popular surf spot Ala Moana Bowls on the edge of Waikiki, was an opaque brown with leftover debris floating around.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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Vintage Guess surf and skate graphics are layered and remixed with Hysteric’s motifs and retro stripes across a range of tees.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Only 2200 of them remain, having staved off swells of economic uncertainty, retaining their Irish accents and ways of life.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
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The bills drew a swell of opposition during a public hearing earlier this month.—
Katy Golvala,
Hartford Courant,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The massive amounts of debris that impact created then crashed back to the lunar surface, creating a tidal wave 11 times taller than Mount Everest and then sloshing around for two hours to form the outer two of the basin’s three concentric rims.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
4 Apr. 2026
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Roach’s wedding reveal in March prompted a tidal wave of attention on Zendaya and Holland.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tsunami.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tsunami. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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