tsunami
noun
tsu·na·mi
(t)su̇-ˈnä-mē 
plural tsunamis also tsunami
: a great sea wave produced especially by submarine earth movement or volcanic eruption : tidal wave
Examples of tsunami in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The tsunami waves reached up to 100 feet high in some areas.
—
Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
Most-clicked in our last newsletter: Stephen Nesbitt’s story on how Sasaki’s life, career and outlook were shaped by losing family in the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
Per data from the Insurance Information Institute, the only disasters with a higher insured cost were 2005's Hurricane Katrina, 2022's Hurricane Ian and the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011.
—Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025
Japan's Nuclear Plants Rattled As Magnitude 6.9 Quake Hits Hyuga-Nada
By Michael D. Carroll
Breaking News Editor
0
Two of Japan's nuclear power plants were rattled on Monday when a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck southwest Japan, prompting a tsunami advisory for parts of the region.
—John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
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Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
Most-clicked in our last newsletter: Stephen Nesbitt’s story on how Sasaki’s life, career and outlook were shaped by losing family in the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
—Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
Per data from the Insurance Information Institute, the only disasters with a higher insured cost were 2005's Hurricane Katrina, 2022's Hurricane Ian and the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011.
—Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 17 Jan. 2025
Japan's Nuclear Plants Rattled As Magnitude 6.9 Quake Hits Hyuga-Nada
By Michael D. Carroll
Breaking News Editor
0
Two of Japan's nuclear power plants were rattled on Monday when a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck southwest Japan, prompting a tsunami advisory for parts of the region.
—John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tsunami
Articles Related to tsunami
Dictionary Entries Near tsunami
Cite this Entry
“Tsunami.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tsunami. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tsunami
noun
tsu·na·mi
(t)su̇-ˈnäm-ē
: a great sea wave produced especially by an earthquake or volcanic eruption under the sea : tidal wave
Etymology
Japanese, from tsu "harbor" + nami "wave"
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