storm 1 of 2

noun

ˈstȯrm How to pronounce storm (audio)
Definition of stormnext
1
as in thunderstorm
a disturbance of the atmosphere accompanied by wind and often by precipitation (as rain or snow) a winter storm bringing about six inches of snow

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in barrage
a heavy fall of objects police had to endure a storm of rocks and bricks hurled by the rioters

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in flurry
a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once the army's spokesperson faced a storm of questions from reporters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity a few minutes of calm before the storm, when the store would open its doors on the busiest day of the year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in rain
a steady falling of water from the sky in significant quantity the storm caused major damage to our barn

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in explosion
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling a storm of indignation and demands for his resignation arose when the mayor's dishonesty was exposed

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7
as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) civil wars and other storms of unrest swept through the African continent

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storm

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rage
to express one's anger usually violently the chef spent the morning storming at his staff about the ruined sauces

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to rain
to fall as water in a continuous stream of drops from the clouds it storms so frequently up in the mountains that the peaks are rarely visible from the valley below

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to attack
to take sudden, violent action against the pirates stormed the ship, easily taking the whole crew as their prisoners

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to steam
to be excited or emotionally stirred up with anger by the time we arrived, our hostess was storming because dinner was ruined

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb storm contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of storm are assail, assault, attack, and bombard. While all these words mean "to make an onslaught upon," storm implies attempting to break into a defended position.

preparing to storm the fortress

When might assail be a better fit than storm?

While in some cases nearly identical to storm, assail implies attempting to break down resistance by repeated blows or shots.

assailed the enemy with artillery fire

Where would assault be a reasonable alternative to storm?

In some situations, the words assault and storm are roughly equivalent. However, assault suggests a direct attempt to overpower by suddenness and violence of onslaught.

commandos assaulted the building from all sides

When would attack be a good substitute for storm?

The words attack and storm can be used in similar contexts, but attack implies taking the initiative in a struggle.

plan to attack the town at dawn

When can bombard be used instead of storm?

The words bombard and storm are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bombard applies to attacking with bombs or shells.

bombarded the city nightly

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 storm
Noun
Three hikers died after sliding off the icy, narrow Devil’s Backbone trail and plummeting to their deaths after a storm in December. —Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026 Organizers said the group pressed on even as powerful winter storms swept across large portions of the country, bringing heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain. —Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
Lucas on $50,000 fine for court storming The ACC fined UM $50,000 as punishment for its fans storming the court after the win over UNC. —Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026 Then Balint stormed out of the hearing. —Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for storm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for storm
  1. thunderstorm
  2. barrage
  3. flurry
  4. commotion
  5. rain
  6. explosion
  7. upheaval
  8. rage
Noun
  • Some of the fiercest storms in the South were reported near Lake Charles, Louisiana, where high winds from a thunderstorm overturned a horse trailer and a Mardi Gras float, damaged an airport jet bridge and flung the metal awning from a house into power lines.
    — Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 15 Feb. 2026
  • An unusual February thunderstorm is even possible after midnight on Tuesday – so don't be surprised if a few rumbles wake you up.
    — Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 15 Feb. 2026
Definition of thunderstorm
Noun
  • That move protected him from the Rule 5 Draft and signaled that the Yankees still have high hopes for a guy who was a consensus top-100 prospect before the barrage of injuries.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Ukrainian civilians endure Russian aerial barrages that repeatedly knock out power and smash homes, while Ukraine has developed drones that can fly deep into Russian territory and strike oil refineries and arms depots.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Definition of barrage
Noun
  • Her voice is intimate and resonant, whether cut up into indistinct background flurries or pushed to the front of the mix.
    — Alex Robert Ross, Pitchfork, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The idea has spawned a flurry of products which are helping their customers resist the temptation of automatically picking up their phone and scrolling social media during any and every lull in the day.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of flurry
Noun
  • Subscribe to Stocks @ Night today and see what the commotion will be about tomorrow today.
    — , CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
  • His parents, who help run the local taco chain, stood in customized Villa’s jerseys and marveled at the commotion Monday.
    — Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of commotion
Noun
  • Light Layers The fickle nature of spring means that a beautiful sunny day can turn cold, windy, and spitting with rain at the drop of a hat.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The primary bedroom features a walk-in closet and a marble bath with a dual vanity, an oversized shower with a rain head, and a freestanding soaking tub.
    — Saleema Syed, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Definition of rain
Noun
  • In a news conference Friday, a spokesperson for the Pest County Police Headquarters said an explosion in one of the rooms likely caused the fire.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Some parents told the Tribune that pandemic-era growth seems to have set off a snowball effect, fueled by an explosion of online and at-home learning resources.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of explosion
Noun
  • And then there’s D’Amaro, who will need to chart a course for the most powerful of all traditional entertainment companies amid that tech upheaval.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Wilson isn’t alone in shutting out the noise of the industry’s upheaval.
    — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of upheaval
Verb
  • The diners, much like the audience during the opening scene for director Verbinski’s ambitious satire on this existential threat to humanity, have no idea how this madman raging against the AI machine in an LA eatery would save the world.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Huntington predicted that a new conflict would rage after the demise of Communism.
    — Josef Joffe, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Definition of rage

Browse Nearby Words

storing
storm
storm cellar
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Cite this Entry

“Storm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/storm. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on storm

Nglish: Translation of storm for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about storm

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