as in surge
a very high, large wave in the ocean that is usually caused by an earthquake under the sea and that can cause great destruction when it reaches land
The coastline will suffer devastating damage if a tsunami ever hits it.
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Recent Examples of tsunami
The March 11, 2011, quake and tsunami destroyed cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, causing meltdowns at reactors 1, 2 and 3.
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Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
Set against the backdrop of the city’s recovery from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the film traces the two women’s gradual reconciliation through their father’s photographs, exploring themes of loss, identity and the Filipino diaspora.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
After the tsunami, the storm, and the EMP, things were hard on the surface, but people formed communities, friendships, and relationships.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Faced with independent inspectors finding safety problems at the plant, the government regulators effectively allowed Fukushima to police itself, leading to several major issues that came to a head when the plant was overwhelmed by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tsunami
Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
Set against the backdrop of the city’s recovery from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the film traces the two women’s gradual reconciliation through their father’s photographs, exploring themes of loss, identity and the Filipino diaspora.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
After the tsunami, the storm, and the EMP, things were hard on the surface, but people formed communities, friendships, and relationships.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Faced with independent inspectors finding safety problems at the plant, the government regulators effectively allowed Fukushima to police itself, leading to several major issues that came to a head when the plant was overwhelmed by an earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tsunami
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tsunami
Noun
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Despite this surge and ongoing travel disruptions, a Colorado travel expert says the time to book future travel is now.—
Mekialaya White,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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While none of the commodities are traded as widely as oil, the surge indicates how ripple effects from the Middle East conflict could end up restricting production of the semiconductors that power artificial intelligence advances.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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On March 30, the water at Oahu's Ala Wai Boat Harbor, home to the popular surf spot Ala Moana Bowls on the edge of Waikiki, was an opaque brown with leftover debris floating around.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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Vintage Guess surf and skate graphics are layered and remixed with Hysteric’s motifs and retro stripes across a range of tees.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Only 2200 of them remain, having staved off swells of economic uncertainty, retaining their Irish accents and ways of life.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
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The bills drew a swell of opposition during a public hearing earlier this month.—
Katy Golvala,
Hartford Courant,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Precedent for tidal wave of cases The significant effects of two verdicts are about evidence and precedent.—
Carolina Rossini,
The Conversation,
26 Mar. 2026
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The actress, who rode a tidal wave of success in the late '90s, is cloaked in the kind of swagger that only lasting stardom can give.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tsunami.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tsunami. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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