tidal wave

noun

1

a

: an unusually high sea wave that is triggered especially by an earthquake

b

: an unusual rise of water alongshore due to strong winds

2

: something overwhelming especially in quantity or volume

a tidal wave of tourists

Examples of tidal wave in a Sentence

a tidal wave of emotion

Recent Examples on the Web

Chelsea Handler: The Feeling Following the success of her Critics Choice Awards hosting gig, Chelsea Handler is riding the tidal wave with a stand-up special that released on March 25 on Netflix. —Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Riding the emotional tidal wave, the Trojans earned a second consecutive trip to the Sweet 16, in Spokane, Washington this year, by overwhelming Mississippi State in every way – scoreboards, backboards, sonically, spiritually. —Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2025

Having compromised major telecom and internet service providers—including AT&T, Verizon and others—Salt Typhoon has sent tidal waves (pun intended) across the network security ecosystem. —Chris McHenry, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025

The director William Friedkin’s film—which also won Best Picture—was part of a tidal wave of challenging, morally complex storytelling that washed ashore starting in the late ’60s. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for tidal wave

• aftershave
• architrave
• autoclave
• microwave
• misbehave
• agave
• behave
• concave
• conclave
• enclave
• engrave
• enslave

Kids Definition

tidal wave

noun

1

: an unusually high sea wave that is triggered especially by an earthquake

2

: an unusual rise of water alongshore due to strong winds