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 But in the end, Avila Chevalier won, carried to a narrow victory by the left-wing tsunami that created landslides for the other congressional candidates Mamdani endorsed, Brad Lander and Claire Valdez. — Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 June 2026 Two earthquakes rocked Venezuela leaving deadly destruction in its wake and triggering a tsunami advisory in the Caribbean. — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 25 June 2026 The Colombian Maritime Authority said in a statement that the country's Caribbean coast wasn't at risk of a tsunami. — CBS News, 25 June 2026 There is no ongoing tsunami threat, according to the US Tsunami Warning Centers. — Taylor Ward, CNN Money, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tsunami
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tsunami
  1. surge
  2. surf
  3. swell
  4. tidal wave
Noun
  • Jesse Marsch’s side deserved it after a second-half surge led by Alphonso Davies’ first appearance at this 2026 tournament.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Less than two weeks later, Hurricane Milton brought strong winds and life-threatening storm surge to the west coast of Florida.
    — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of surge
Noun
  • Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous surf and NEVER turn your back on the ocean.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 6 July 2026
  • Everywhere, in big cities and small towns, there’s an increase in the adultification of children, even the well-off ones, even the ones raised by gentle parents, even the ones with skate and surf camps, guitar lessons, and college funds.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Definition of surf
Noun
  • The high tides are being influenced by an overall swell in the Pacific Ocean that’s being caused by stormy weather in the Southern Hemisphere.
    — Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
  • For many people busy ferrying their kids to camp or embarking on vacations, summer is a time to let their TV backlog swell.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 8 July 2026
Definition of swell
Noun
  • Monsanto has faced a tidal wave of litigation in recent years over its Roundup product.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 25 June 2026
  • With a population of over 200 million, any news story generates a tidal wave of jokes, many of them very sharp.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 25 June 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 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tsunami

Nglish: Translation of tsunami for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tsunami

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