as in floods
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms
the dam broke, unleashing a torrent down the dry riverbed
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Recent Examples of torrents
Spring rains and winter snowmelt have swelled rivers and lakes, forcing torrents of water through Cheboygan County communities on its way to Lake Huron.
—
Sarah Brumfield, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The silken charcoal bathrobes are a decadent touch, as are the welcome torrents of piping water that rain from monsoon showers and the wonderful organic soaps.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Spring rains and winter snowmelt have swelled rivers and lakes, forcing torrents of water through Cheboygan County communities on its way to Lake Huron.
—CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Even moderate rainfall can quickly transform these waterways into destructive torrents that overflow into nearby townships, including Friendswood and League City.
—Dominic Boyer, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
Excessive rain caused torrents of water to wash out homes, damage roads, and threaten to burst a dam, sparking an emergency evacuation of thousands in Oahu on March 20.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Lightning made the sky as bright as day, the thunder was a continuous crash, and torrents of rain poured down.
—Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
According to experts, these homes encroach on a path that has carried torrents of water for centuries during periods of heavy rains.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
In 2017, soaking storms led to flooding that caused $100 million in damage in downtown San Jose and the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people when the spillway at Oroville Dam, the nation’s tallest dam, in Butte County, partially collapsed under torrents of water.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Sarah Brumfield, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The silken charcoal bathrobes are a decadent touch, as are the welcome torrents of piping water that rain from monsoon showers and the wonderful organic soaps.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Spring rains and winter snowmelt have swelled rivers and lakes, forcing torrents of water through Cheboygan County communities on its way to Lake Huron.
—CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Even moderate rainfall can quickly transform these waterways into destructive torrents that overflow into nearby townships, including Friendswood and League City.
—Dominic Boyer, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2026
Excessive rain caused torrents of water to wash out homes, damage roads, and threaten to burst a dam, sparking an emergency evacuation of thousands in Oahu on March 20.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Lightning made the sky as bright as day, the thunder was a continuous crash, and torrents of rain poured down.
—Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
According to experts, these homes encroach on a path that has carried torrents of water for centuries during periods of heavy rains.
—ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
In 2017, soaking storms led to flooding that caused $100 million in damage in downtown San Jose and the evacuation of nearly 200,000 people when the spillway at Oroville Dam, the nation’s tallest dam, in Butte County, partially collapsed under torrents of water.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torrents
floods
Noun
-
Haiti’s recent catastrophic floods have only compounded the country’s overlapping crises.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The camp plans to implement emergency training and drills for floods, fire and other disasters, but investigators found the lack of previous training was key in the deaths.—
Jim Vertuno,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torrents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torrents. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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