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tsunami

tsunami

87 4.9
A very large sea wave caused by an earthquake that can flood land
  • noun
  • /tsuˈnɑːmi/
translation icon : tsunami
  • The earthquake and resultant tsunami collapsed facilities and damaged infrastructure in a huge swath of northeast Japan.
  • a tsunami warning
  • tsunami waves
  • tsunami after an earthquake

This forum will examine the response to the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crises in Japan.

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Examples

  • The earthquake happened, but the real disaster was the tsunami that followed, as we all know.

  • It is the most devastating tsunami in recorded history.

  • All the animals started running up into the hills because they could sense that tsunami was coming.

  • Thousands upon thousands dead in that tsunami.

  • Japan has one of the most advanced tsunami warning and preparation systems in the world.

    Academic text (2005)
  • We do have information that the tsunami has made landfall.

  • There's a tsunami warning for the next two hours.

  • Reports of the death toll kept increasing soon after the tsunami occurred on December 26, 2004.

    Academic text (2005)
  • After the 2004 Asian tsunami, one million people were initially displaced in Sri Lanka.

    Academic text (2012)
  • After the earthquake, a massive tsunami struck the coastal town, leaving destruction in its wake.

Synonyms

tidal wave
vstsunami
7 3.2

A very large wave of water that suddenly rises along the coast and causes damage

is caused by undersea earthquakes or sea disturbances rather than unspecified water rises

Antonyms

52 1.0

A quiet, peaceful feeling that helps you stay steady

38 3.5

A time of complete quiet and no movement that feels calm

Compounds

A sudden very large number of problems that is hard to deal with

A sudden large wave of comments from many people that follows an event

How Big

tsunami
87 4.9
wave
759 1.0
swell
  • Literature
46 5.7
ripple
45 2.6

Surface Forms

tsunami singular
tsunamis plural

Etymology

Tsunami comes from Japanese parts tsu and nami, which mean 'harbour' and 'wave', so the word literally means a 'harbour wave'. That's a helpful way to remember that a tsunami is a very large sea wave that can hit the coast after an underwater earthquake.