flood 1 of 2

noun

ˈfləd How to pronounce flood (audio)
Definition of floodnext
as in torrent
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms a flood nearly wiped out the town a flood of messages on my computer

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

flood

2 of 2

verb

as in to engulf
to cover with a flood the lowlands were completely flooded angry calls flooded the radio station

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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 flood
Noun
The Dam and adjacent reservoir sit about two miles west of Corona and regulate the Santa Ana River, providing flood risk management. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026 Through Monday, 34 million people from Delaware to Connecticut are under flood alerts, though the severe weather risk is noticeably lower. — Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 5 July 2026
Verb
News of his death – one example of the political violence roiling America in recent years – quickly went global, with graphic videos flooding social media and politicians on both sides of the aisle swiftly condemning the killing. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 Amethyst Martinez Thousands of locals and tourists alike flooded lower Manhattan Saturday morning to catch a glimpse of the Tall Ships parade while military planes flew overtop. — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for flood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flood
  1. torrent
  2. engulf
  3. overwhelm
  4. drown
  5. submerge
  6. deluge
Noun
  • One significant problem, however, is that red dwarfs spit out harmful torrents of radiation in fierce gusts of their stellar winds, which can strip away a planet's atmosphere.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 2 July 2026
  • After Bores entered the race, super PACs tied to investors in ChatGPT maker OpenAI unleashed a torrent of spending aimed at torpedoing his campaign.
    — Eric McDaniel, NPR, 22 June 2026
Definition of torrent
Verb
  • Polls show Democrats are the favorites to retake Congress heading into November, but the party is engulfed at the moment by a fierce debate about its ideologicl direction.
    — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • The impact caused a fire that engulfed the county bus, the NTSB said.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of engulf
Verb
  • The city is recommending zoning regulations that fall in line with state statute while trying to calm residents who are worried data centers will overwhelm resources like water and energy and impose on their quality of life.
    — Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
  • But the ownership group is overwhelmed by left-wing politics.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of overwhelm
Verb
  • The death marked the fourth fatal drowning on the Lake of the Ozarks in 2026, according to the patrol’s data.
    — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 6 July 2026
  • The team’s supporters filled a few compact sections, islands of green drowned out in a sea of blue Kylian Mbappé jerseys.
    — Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 6 July 2026
Definition of drown
Verb
  • The subs never actually submerged—passengers simply sat below the lagoon’s waterline—but the ride embodied a growing appetite for underwater tourism.
    — Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 2 July 2026
  • Soon, the pump station was submerged, the engines stopped, and water pressure plummeted across most of the city.
    — Kansas City Public Library staff, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Definition of submerge
Verb
  • The severe weather is the latest in a history of catastrophic flooding in Kentucky, including deadly flash floods in early 2025 when more than a month’s worth of rain deluged much of the state in less than 24 hours.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 27 June 2026
  • For years we’ve been deluged with stories about the Social Security system’s going broke in the early 2030s.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of deluge

Phrases Containing flood

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flogs
flood
flooded
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Cite this Entry

“Flood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flood. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flood

Nglish: Translation of flood for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flood

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