tsunami

noun

Definition of tsunaminext
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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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 tsunami The look of 24-hour cable news evolved that day, as the tsunami of information led to Fox News, MSNBC and CNN all adding running tickers at the bottom of the screen. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026 Witness the botch job that was made of assessing the 9% ratings drop in 2016, which apparently had nothing to with the usual election-year cannibalism or a tsunami of high-profile player injuries. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 9 Sep. 2026 In 2018, the volcano collapsed, triggering a huge tsunami that killed more than 400 people and displaced thousands on the country’s coastlines. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2026 The death toll stands at more than 1,300 after the August 26 disaster triggered by the collapse of a section of glacier, which plunged into water below setting off a tsunami-like surge. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tsunami
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tsunami
  1. surge
  2. surf
  3. swell
  4. tidal wave
Noun
  • Pakistan has faced a surge in militant violence, much of it blamed on the TTP and Baloch separatists.
    — MUNIR AHMED, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The surge in activity reflects a growing trend toward online commerce, as more small businesses and consumers turn to social media platforms like TikTok to buy and sell goods.
    — Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of surge
Noun
  • The beach is right there for swimming and paddleboarding when the surf is calm, and the trails through the dunes are manageable for kids old enough to walk them without being carried.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • San Juanico has experienced late summer storms, but Polo feels different, said Jeffrey Westman, an American who was first drawn to the town’s world-class surf break 40 years ago and owns a property there.
    — Eugene Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of surf
Noun
  • The hurricanes are not expected to hit California but could send swells toward the California coast as early as Sunday, forecasters have told The Times.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The surf-worthy Pacific swells provide excellent conditions for paddling out and riding waves.
    — Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of swell
Noun
  • Now, more hiring managers are confronting the tidal wave of job candidates with their own AI tools.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The road here has been a long one marked by a tidal wave of industry opposition, a bruising legal fight, and threats by Paramount CEO David Ellison to exit Hollywood and relocate Paramount to another state.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of tidal wave

Browse Nearby Words

tsk-tsks
tsunami
tsunamis
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Cite this Entry

“Tsunami.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tsunami. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tsunami

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tsunami

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