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deluge

deluge

11 6.3
A very heavy rain that causes flooding
  • noun
  • /ˈdɛljuːdʒ/
translation icon : diluvio
  • In fact, after a while, local residents feared a deluge.
  • following the deluge

Oh no, you know, the ones where a deluge is imminent.

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Examples

  • After days of steady rain, the town was finally submerged in a deluge that damaged homes and roads.

  • Unfortunately, before the cameras could roll, the heavens opened, marking the beginning of a seemingly endless deluge.

  • The deluge filled the pond, then formed a river all the way to the lake in the valley.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • The overnight deluge of some 300 millimeters of rain in a span of 18 hours has wreaked havoc.

  • When temperatures are above freezing, we can expect to see increases in the likelihood of deluges that may overwhelm storm sewers and cause localized flooding.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Iowa flooding rivals the 1993 deluge: Midwestern storms swamp Cedar Rapids and Des Moines.

    Academic text (2008)
  • The sudden deluge caused the river to overflow, leading to widespread evacuations in the low-lying areas.

  • As the storm approached, residents prepared for a potential deluge that could disrupt their weekend plans.

Synonyms

flood
vsdeluge
286 1.0

A large amount of water that covers land that is usually dry

is narrower in use, often used for heavy rain events as well as overflow
flooding
vsdeluge
136 2.1

A large amount of water covering land that is usually dry

also applies to intense rain as an event, not only the water spread
rainstorm
vsdeluge
26 1.0

A short time when a lot of rain falls, often with strong wind

is stronger, referring to either this heavy rain or severe land flooding
downpour
vsdeluge
24 2.7

A heavy and sudden fall of rain

also refers to the event of water covering land or heavy rain
flash flood
vsdeluge
15 3.7

A sudden rise of water that covers land after heavy rain

is less focused on cause and can mean heavy rain or land flooding
torrent
vsdeluge
3 4.4

A very heavy fall of rain that starts suddenly

can mean either severe land covering by water or very heavy rain
cloudburst
vsdeluge
2 6.3

A sudden very heavy rain that falls for a short time

is broader, including either extreme rain or widespread water covering
2 3.0

Water covers a large area and causes damage

is more general, covering single heavy rain events or the widespread water result
inundation
vsdeluge
1 7.7

Flooding of land when water covers areas that are normally dry

is used both for this result and for very heavy downpours
torrent of rain
vsdeluge
1 3.0

A sudden very heavy fall of rain that soaks everything

also covers the result of water covering land or very heavy rain
soaker
vsdeluge
  • US
1 4.2

A short time of very heavy rain

is tighter, meaning either intense rain or the actual land inundation
1 3.2

A lot of rain or snow that falls in a short time

is more specific, meaning either intense moisture fall or actual water covering land
pelter
vsdeluge
  • Archaic
9.9

A heavy sudden rain that soaks people quickly

can mean that heavy rain or the resulting water covering of land
flashflood
vsdeluge
4.4

A sudden flood that happens very quickly after heavy rain

is broader, also used for very heavy rain that may not flood land
alluvion
vsdeluge
  • Specialized
9.9

The covering of dry land by water when a river or sea rises

is the stronger everyday term that can mean heavy rain or overflow effects
waterflood
vsdeluge
6.3

A sudden large flow of water that floods land

is broader, also used for intense rain without naming the overflow cause
speight
vsdeluge
  • Archaic
9.9

A sudden heavy fall of rain that soaks quickly

is the common modern term that covers both heavy rain and land flooding

Antonyms

178 3.7

A long time with no rain that makes the land very dry

15 3.6

A period with little or no rain that can mean a time without success

Compounds

Noachian deluge
  • Literature
9.9

A great flood in the Bible during Noah's time

How Heavy

deluge
11 6.3
downpour
24 2.7
rain
1.0
shower
162 1.0
drizzle
21 1.0

Surface Forms

deluge singular
deluges plural

Etymology

Deluge comes from the Latin parts de- meaning 'down' and luere meaning 'to wash', so it originally pictured a great washing away by water. That's why a deluge means a very heavy flood or rain.