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.

Related Words

Relevance

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 Basarnas/Handout/Anadolu/Getty For many residents, the disaster revived painful memories of a powerful earthquake and tsunami that struck Flores in 1992, killing about 2,500 people. — CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026 The tsunamis reached several small coastal villages, which caused some infrastructure damage, according to The Associated Press, though a tsunami warning has since been lifted. — Connor Greene, Time, 17 Aug. 2026 Authorities also issued a tsunami warning and urged coastal residents to move to higher ground, but later lifted the warning when Indonesia’s meteorological agency said monitoring showed no significant sea-level change. — Christine Valora, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026 Authorities lifted a tsunami warning about three hours later. — Reuters, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tsunami
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tsunami
  1. surge
  2. surf
  3. swell
  4. tidal wave
Noun
  • This week, Nepal saw more than 430 megawatts of power –– enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes –– knocked offline after 12 dams were hit by the surge of floodwaters.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Over the past decade, golf in Portugal has experienced a remarkable surge, with destinations such as the beautiful Palmares Ocean Living & Golf Resort putting the country firmly on the global golf travel map.
    — Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of surge
Noun
  • Rough surf and locally hazardous conditions for small craft are also anticipated over the northern Gulf.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Karina will stay away from land — spinning out its days in the open ocean — but some heavy surf could arrive to the shores of California later this week.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of surf
Noun
  • But Yates' story didn't elicit the same swell of empathy as Lindsay Clancy's has today.
    — Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Like a massive ocean swell, which can bear all kinds of flotsam and jetsam ashore, a political wave that is big enough, broad enough and strong enough can carry all manner of unlikely candidates to victory.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of swell
Noun
  • With no explanation, a tidal wave as tall as a skyscraper envelops a city.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Knopf humbly acknowledges Visit Orlando and Orlando Health’s role in lifting our community’s boats with a veritable tidal wave of funding, as well as the diners who participate.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of tidal wave

Browse Nearby Words

tsk-tsks
tsunami
tsunamis
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tsunami.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tsunami. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on tsunami

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tsunami

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All