simoom
- noun
- /sɪˈmuːm/
- The simoom swept through the desert, carrying dust and debris.
Examples
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The explorers took shelter to avoid the suffocating heat of the simoom.
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Stories of the deadly simoom have passed down through generations in North African villages.
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During their journey across the Sahara, a sudden simoom made travel nearly impossible.
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A fierce simoom can make travel across the desert dangerous.
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The simoom swept across the desert, making it difficult to breathe due to the swirling dust.
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As the sun set, the simoom brought with it an oppressive heat that made the night unbearable.
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Travelers warned each other to stay indoors when the simoom blew in, as its hot winds could be suffocating.
Synonyms
Strong wind that blows sand and dust into the air
A hot dry wind from North Africa that brings dust or sand
A strong wind that carries dust and quickly makes it hard to see
A dry, dusty wind from the Sahara that blows over West Africa in winter
A very strong hot wind that blows sand across deserts
A hot dry dusty wind from the Sahara that blows across Egypt in spring
Antonyms
How Strong
Surface Forms
Etymology
Simoom comes from Arabic samūm, related to samm meaning 'poisonous'. People called that desert blast 'poisonous' because the hot, dust-filled wind can make it hard to breathe, so simoom now means a fierce, suffocating desert wind.