STORM Synonyms: 353 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

storm 1 of 2

noun

ˈstȯrm

Definition of storm next

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

Relevance

as in barrage

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

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as in flurry

a rapid or overwhelming outpouring of many things at once the army's spokesperson faced a storm of questions from reporters

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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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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

as in to rage

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to assault

to take sudden, violent action against the pirates stormed the ship, easily taking the whole crew as their prisoners

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

What To Know The winter storm warnings concern Idaho, Utah, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, New York, Vermont, Michigan, Maine, and New Hampshire. —

Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025 Customers were 'like family' Frontier Airlines launches nonstop service from CT airport with fares as low as $49 Popular fast food chicken chain applies for permit to open another location in CT Winter storm watch issued for parts of CT. —

Mark Maglio, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2025

Verb

He had been held in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, when the married couple were kidnapped from their home during the Hamas massacre where thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel and slaughtered around 1,200 people and abducted 251 people, sparking the war in Gaza. —

Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 14 Feb. 2025 The Fire lead 3-0 early in the third when Maple Grove came storming back with five unanswered goals in the final 15 minutes of the game. —

Todd Abeln, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for storm

Recent Examples of Synonyms for storm

Noun

Cities such as Dallas, Little Rock and Nashville will also remain warm enough to face rain and possibly thunderstorms.

— John Bacon, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
To get people interested in Lay’s potato chips, PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay will unspool a cinematic, minute-long spot all about the travails of potato farmers, complete with a raging thunderstorm, a young girl and an absence of dialogue.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 Feb. 2025