maelstrom

noun

ˈmāl-strəm How to pronounce maelstrom (audio)
Definition of maelstromnext
as in vortex
water moving rapidly in a circle with a hollow in the center our rubber raft got caught in a maelstrom in a particularly rough stretch of white water

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 maelstrom The Pride Night maelstrom arrived just weeks after West Sacramento launched its bid for an MLB expansion team on May 28. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026 If there is a God, Ahamed should win a second one for 1873, his utterly compelling history of the world’s first global financial disaster and how the Rothschilds banking family got caught up in the maelstrom. — Air Mail, 6 June 2026 Her Alice becomes a blazing embodiment of the emotional maelstrom inside every woman who is expected to somehow put on a supportive, understanding face no matter how outrageous or impossible the situation. — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026 But back in 2022, leading up to and following the release of Don't Worry Darling, her second feature in the director's chair, Wilde couldn't make it through a single media engagement without being buffeted by gusts from a maelstrom of rumors and gossip consuming her life. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for maelstrom
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maelstrom
vortex
Noun
  • The shape of Shinnecock spins you in a vortex, with crosswinds galore.
    — Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 16 June 2026
  • Ash vortices form because of intense heat associated with lava flows or vents.
    — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 15 June 2026
Definition of vortex

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Cite this Entry

“Maelstrom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maelstrom. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on maelstrom

Nglish: Translation of maelstrom for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about maelstrom

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