1
as in landslides
a large mass especially of snow, ice, dirt, or rocks descending from a high place
Much of the mountainside was covered by the avalanche.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in influxes
a sudden large amount of something that overwhelms
After the disaster, the town received an avalanche of letters and donations from supporters and well-wishers.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in tumbles
to fall down in a large mass
The snow avalanched down the mountainside.
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 avalanches
Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 Mar. 2026
In early February, just as Italy was hosting the Winter Olympics, a record 13 skiers had died on the slopes during one week, including 10 in avalanches.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Europe has been hit by a string of avalanches this winter.
—CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
More than 40 backcountry explorers saw avalanches on various Colorado mountain ranges between Friday and Sunday, according to field reports submitted to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026
Noun
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
—Ca Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 Mar. 2026
In early February, just as Italy was hosting the Winter Olympics, a record 13 skiers had died on the slopes during one week, including 10 in avalanches.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Europe has been hit by a string of avalanches this winter.
—CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
More than 40 backcountry explorers saw avalanches on various Colorado mountain ranges between Friday and Sunday, according to field reports submitted to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avalanches
Noun
-
Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Storms and heavy rainfall over the past few days across several provinces have led to severe flooding, landslides and lightning strikes, the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority said, adding that the figures could increase as more details become available.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Several commercial outfits have recently announced big funding influxes aimed at speeding up the development and launch of new orbiting outposts.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The titans of the industry have started investing heavily in purchasing elections through massive influxes of cash.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The video shows the plane colliding with the truck, going over the vehicle, which tumbles beneath the jet.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
There's something so timeless and romantic about hair that almost audibly tumbles down one's back.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When heavy rain occurs, there is a potential for flooding, particularly in areas that are low-lying or prone to floods.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The delays affected a range of disaster-response functions, including housing inspections, temporary sheltering and crisis counseling, and slowed the distribution of aid tied to major events such as the July 2025 Texas floods and Hurricane Helene.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And in places where sewage and rain flow through the same pipes, heavy rains made worse by climate change can make overflows to waterways more frequent and severe.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The overflows have triggered a number of recreational and shellfish harvesting advisories along the Potomac.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The former is a ring on the bottom of the rock that skids across the ice, and the latter is a band around the sides of the rock that collides with other rocks (ideally knocking an opponent’s rock off the bull’s-eye or nudging your team’s closer to it).—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Cargo plane skids off runway in Hong Kong An Emirates Boeing 747 cargo plane skidded off the runway after arriving at Hong Kong International Airport and landed in the sea, according to airport authority.—
Clara McMichael,
ABC News,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The entertainment venue is nearly 40,000 square feet and has dry slides that company says are as slick as a water chute, using proprietary materials and technology.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The Great Tides Waterpark, offering 19 water slides, cliff jumping and more, is slated to open this summer.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Excessive rain caused torrents of water to wash out homes, damage roads, and threaten to burst a dam, sparking an emergency evacuation of thousands in Oahu on March 20.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Lightning made the sky as bright as day, the thunder was a continuous crash, and torrents of rain poured down.—
Doris DeCleene,
Outdoor Life,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Avalanches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avalanches. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
