as in barrages
a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once
surprised by the volley of complaints about cable service in the area
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 volleys
The consistent execution and variation in those volleys displayed just how technically gifted Van Persie was and deserve recognition.
—
Jay Harris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
The strategy that King decided on at the last minute was to hang back, lobbing softballs to create long volleys that would tire Riggs out.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Straight-line rockets, swerving bends, dipping volleys.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Dec. 2025
The men might follow such tracks for a week or more to catch up to the animals, then disorient the tiger families by releasing dogs or volleys of gunfire, causing the cats to scatter.
—Literary Hub, 14 Nov. 2025
French broadcasters also reported sporadic clashes in the cities of Nantes, in the west, and Lyon in the southeast, with volleys of police tear gas and projectiles targeting officers.
—Dan Gooding
jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Bryan has also been in his share of drama, sending volleys back and forth with his ex, Brianna LaPaglia, and also squaring off with fellow Oklahoma singer-songwriter John Moreland.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2025
Stamper told jurors Stines fired nine shots in multiple volleys.
—Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Sep. 2025
Officers called out to Montana to drop his weapon, only to be met with more bullets, with volleys of eight, 14 and eight shots in short succession.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
Jay Harris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
The strategy that King decided on at the last minute was to hang back, lobbing softballs to create long volleys that would tire Riggs out.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Straight-line rockets, swerving bends, dipping volleys.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Dec. 2025
The men might follow such tracks for a week or more to catch up to the animals, then disorient the tiger families by releasing dogs or volleys of gunfire, causing the cats to scatter.
—Literary Hub, 14 Nov. 2025
French broadcasters also reported sporadic clashes in the cities of Nantes, in the west, and Lyon in the southeast, with volleys of police tear gas and projectiles targeting officers.
—Dan Gooding
jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Bryan has also been in his share of drama, sending volleys back and forth with his ex, Brianna LaPaglia, and also squaring off with fellow Oklahoma singer-songwriter John Moreland.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2025
Stamper told jurors Stines fired nine shots in multiple volleys.
—Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Sep. 2025
Officers called out to Montana to drop his weapon, only to be met with more bullets, with volleys of eight, 14 and eight shots in short succession.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volleys
Noun
-
Deadlock, then a daring escape While the dead and wounded were smuggled to shore and safety, the remaining sailors on board were stuck in sweltering heat, under threat from barrages from the shore, and with dwindling supplies.—
Anne Ewbank,
Popular Science,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Ukrainian civilians are enduring Russian aerial barrages that repeatedly knock out power and destroy homes.—
Emma Burrows,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Some lingering light flurries will taper off through the day, but another system is expected to move through in the evening.—
Aki Nace,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Snow flurries are blowing at an angle, the sky is a leaden grey, and visibility is poor.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Volleys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volleys. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
