avalanche

[av-uh-lanch, -lahnch] / ˈæv əˌlæntʃ, -ˌlɑntʃ /

NOUN

falling large mass; sudden rush of large quantity

Synonyms

STRONGEST

barrage deluge flood landslide torrent

STRONG

inundation landslip

WEAK

snowslide

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Apart from a moraine collapsing, an avalanche or an unusual amount of rainfall can destabilize a lake.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

"There are lots of avalanche stories on our social media, so we're just feeling a bit twitchy," admits Bella.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

There's been no escaping avalanche reports in the French media.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

The eurozone data calendar thins out after the usual end-of-month avalanche.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

An avalanche might slide down at any time.

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell