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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 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 The disaster mitigation agency said on Saturday ​there was ⁠no imminent risk of tsunami from the volcano. — CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026 Walmart has decided to unleash a tsunami of Labor Day tech deals from brands like HP, Roborock, Bose, and more. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tsunami
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tsunami
  1. surge
  2. surf
  3. swell
  4. tidal wave
Noun
  • The lawsuit was filed last fall by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, Public Counsel, and Los Angeles immigrant advocacy groups during an unprecedented surge of immigration enforcement in the region.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Sep. 2026
  • His closest comparison was the surge in business surrounding this past year's Super Bowl festivities.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of surge
Noun
  • That distance keeps the worst of the hurricane’s winds offshore, but Hawaii will still feel Lowell’s effects through dangerous surf and heavy rain.
    — Tyler Ory, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Hurricane Marie created dangerous surf conditions along the coast of Mexico's Baja California and Southern California.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of surf
Noun
  • Every now and then, instead of hitting the wooden boardwalk and shooting several stories skyward, a swell would simply surge over the top of the wall, sending saltwater and debris down the street.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Waves crashing above rooftops in Long Beach from historic swell smashing the Alamitos Peninsula.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of swell
Noun
  • One of the most beloved celebrities of all time, her passing inspired a tidal wave of tributes from around the world, with Parton remembered not just for her music but for her acting career, decades of philanthropy and advocacy.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026
  • With no explanation, a tidal wave as tall as a skyscraper envelops a city.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 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 20 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tsunami

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tsunami

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