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 assault
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
Winter storms and outdated tech caused myriad flight cancellations and delays, leading to a $140m fine from the US Department of Transportation. —Mark Dent, HubSpot, 4 Apr. 2025 In Kentucky, continued storms inundated roads and a mudslide blocked a busy highway on the outskirts of Louisville. —Andrew Demillo, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
Grapevine was down 2-0 with 24 minutes remaining and stormed from behind to tie the game. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Apr. 2025 Rick Ford storms out and decides to run his own mission. —Mike Ryan, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2025 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
  • Isolated to scattered showers, along with isolated thunderstorms, will be possible.
    — Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025
  • How to act during strong winds Take shelter: Immediately go inside a sturdy building during a high wind warning or severe thunderstorm warning and move to an interior room or basement.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of thunderstorm
Noun
  • Walker Kessler’s 3-point barrage Words soften over time.
    — Fred Katz, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Oscar Wilde’s infamous antihero Dorian Gray probably would’ve loved to have a barrage of cameras pointed at him, reflecting his gorgeous visage.
    — Christian Lewis, Variety, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of barrage
Noun
  • Wall Street analysts have issued a flurry of downgrades for the S&P 500, and billionaire business leaders are pushing back against Trump.
    — Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Vietnamese Communist Party chief To Lam was one of the first world leaders to speak with Trump last week after the U.S. president announced a flurry of tariffs on almost every country that exports to the United States.
    — John Ruwitch, NPR, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of flurry
Noun
  • The reveal of the dire wolves and accompanying news on red wolf advances lead to plenty of commotion and news coverage.
    — Mike Snider, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
  • In the backdrop, a commotion of voices from distraught aid workers and soldiers shouting commands in Hebrew can be heard.
    — Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of commotion
Noun
  • Jonesboro, Arkansas, also experienced its wettest April day on record on Saturday, with 5.06 inches of rain recorded.
    — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 Apr. 2025
  • In a lot of areas, there will be less than an inch of rain, especially in those areas hardest hit [by floods], so that's good news.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of rain
Noun
  • Since that offensive explosion, however, the Reds' bats have been dormant.
    — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • In the latest explosion of violence, at least 31 people were killed and dozens others were injured Thursday after the Israeli military struck the Dar al-Arqam School in the Tuffah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, according to a statement by the Gaza Civil Defense.
    — Lauren Izso, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of explosion
Noun
  • Impact Leaders Create Stability In an age of climate risk, geopolitical tension, and technological upheaval, long-term stability matters more than short-term profits.
    — Paul Klein, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Despite the upheaval of the last two months, Nomar is clear on the purpose of college in his life.
    — Anna North, Vox, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of upheaval
Verb
  • Videos shared on social media seemingly showed views of the fires from inside and outside the garage, as flames several feet tall raged from the SUV and dark smoke billowed out into the sky, visible from the park and surrounding areas.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The result is that deep within Jupiter's atmosphere, there are patches of ammonia that fell as mush balls from storms raging dozens of miles above – and that ammonia will stay buried down there until the next big storm dredges it up.
    — Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2025
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 16 Apr. 2025.

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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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