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
In 2004, an extremely powerful Indian Ocean quake set off a tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in a dozen countries, most of them in Indonesia's Aceh province.
—
CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Others see the sea change as less a legal tsunami than a tidal cultural shift — one jurors in New Mexico and California are riding, not speaking into existence.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 28 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
After the tsunami, the storm, and the EMP, things were hard on the surface, but people formed communities, friendships, and relationships.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tsunami
CBS News, 1 Apr. 2026
Others see the sea change as less a legal tsunami than a tidal cultural shift — one jurors in New Mexico and California are riding, not speaking into existence.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 28 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
After the tsunami, the storm, and the EMP, things were hard on the surface, but people formed communities, friendships, and relationships.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tsunami
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tsunami
Noun
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This was the number of civilians killed by air and drone strikes in 2025, according to ACLED, as a surge in drone strikes took a growing toll.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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From there, the Heat moved to a five-point lead midway through the third quarter, their largest to that stage, only to see a 10-0 Hornets surge turn it into a five-point lead of their own.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Even islands like Siargao, known for its surf culture, have rooms for $30 or less.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2026
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At one point, Derek showed them a photo on his phone, taken on a Panama surf trip, standing on the beach next to his board planted in the sand.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Less than a day earlier, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen had been plucked from 3-foot swells by helicopters and transported them roughly one mile to the USS Murtha.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
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That was largely because of a huge swell of protests from hunters, fishermen, hikers, mountain bikers, and other recreational users of these lands—and from the businesses that cater to them.—
Bill McKibben,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The world is already facing a plastic tidal wave, with waste levels on track to nearly triple by 2060 if it is not controlled.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Tsunami.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tsunami. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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