deluge
1 of 2noun
del·uge ˈdel-ˌyüj 
-ˌyüzh;
nonstandard
də-ˈlüj ˈdā-ˌlüj
1
a
: an overflowing of the land by water
b
: a drenching rain
a deluge causing mudslides in the area
2
: an overwhelming amount or number
received a deluge of angry phone calls
deluge
2 of 2verb
deluged; deluging
transitive verb
1
: to overflow with water : inundate
2
: overwhelm, swamp
The store was deluged with complaints.
Synonyms
Noun
- alluvion
- bath
- cataclysm
- cataract
- flood
- flood tide
- inundation
- Niagara
- overflow
- spate
- torrent
Verb
- drown
- engulf
- flood
- gulf
- inundate
- overflow
- overwhelm
- submerge
- submerse
- swamp
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun The deluge caused severe mudslides. a deluge of thanks and appreciation for the returning troops Verb Heavy rains deluged the region. deluged with requests for help
Recent Examples on the Web
Ed Schrader, SPIN, 6 Sep. 2022 National Weather Service meteorologist Torry Gaucher said rainfall rates on Tuesday were nowhere close to Monday’s deluge that flooded parts of Interstate 95 in Providence and left Cranston as the place where the most rain fell. Shannon Larson, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2022 The Big One is overdue, and experts have long warned that a mega-deluge, created by a relentless month-long rainstorm, could transform the Central Valley into a temporary inland sea. Ingfei Chen, The New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2022 In the aftermath of the arrest, with the news ricocheting across the internet, the detectives investigating the case experienced a deluge of tips and additional allegations against Weinberg, prompting them to request more resources from the LAPD. Samuel Braslow, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2022 Anyone who doesn’t escape before the deluge hits would be unlikely to survive. Sarah Kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Aug. 2022 This deluge forced authorities to make dozens of emergency water rescues, as quickly forming floods left drivers and area residents submerged under several feet of water. Michael Murney, Chron, 25 Aug. 2022 The evidence of accelerating climate change has become more alarming, with California as dry as dust and much of the world suffering through record heat and drought, along with the drought-deluge cycle associated with climate change. Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2022 Kent’s momentum came in late ballots despite a deluge of aimed at rescuing Herrera Beutler. Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 6 Aug. 2022 Costas Paris, WSJ, 6 May 2022 Experts point towards a lagging vaccination program and a failure in government messaging as factors behind the surge, which is now threatening to deluge hospitals across the country. Tara John, CNN, 20 Oct. 2021 In its desire to showcase all those shiny new ideas, Far Cry 6 puts its story on the backburner to deluge you with tutorials for countless new modes, upgrades, and abilities. Matt Gardner, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2021 Nicholas, the sixth Atlantic hurricane of 2021, is expected to deluge southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana with torrential rain for several days, posing a threat to flood-prone Houston and other low-lying areas. Robin Webb, sun-sentinel.com, 14 Sep. 2021 Newsom’s opportunity to deluge the state with financial assistance is unlikely to convert the most stalwart Republican voter. Melanie Mason Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2021 In all, a dozen associations along with 70 companies and law firms combined forces to deluge the FAA with comments. BostonGlobe.com, 13 Jan. 2021 Consumers with expensive texting or data plans could end up facing higher costs if debt collectors deluge them with messages. Aimee Picchi, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2020 In the Sanford area, large numbers of homes and businesses were deluged with water and mud. Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 27 May 2020 See More
Noun
The humidity is now a full-on deluge, which brings in yet more REI wind pants and Lululemons. Ed Schrader, SPIN, 6 Sep. 2022 National Weather Service meteorologist Torry Gaucher said rainfall rates on Tuesday were nowhere close to Monday’s deluge that flooded parts of Interstate 95 in Providence and left Cranston as the place where the most rain fell. Shannon Larson, BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2022 The Big One is overdue, and experts have long warned that a mega-deluge, created by a relentless month-long rainstorm, could transform the Central Valley into a temporary inland sea. Ingfei Chen, The New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2022 In the aftermath of the arrest, with the news ricocheting across the internet, the detectives investigating the case experienced a deluge of tips and additional allegations against Weinberg, prompting them to request more resources from the LAPD. Samuel Braslow, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2022 Anyone who doesn’t escape before the deluge hits would be unlikely to survive. Sarah Kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, 30 Aug. 2022 This deluge forced authorities to make dozens of emergency water rescues, as quickly forming floods left drivers and area residents submerged under several feet of water. Michael Murney, Chron, 25 Aug. 2022 The evidence of accelerating climate change has become more alarming, with California as dry as dust and much of the world suffering through record heat and drought, along with the drought-deluge cycle associated with climate change. Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2022 Kent’s momentum came in late ballots despite a deluge of aimed at rescuing Herrera Beutler. Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 6 Aug. 2022 Verb
Some shipping executives are skeptical that boxships from China will deluge U.S. and European ports in the months ahead. Costas Paris, WSJ, 6 May 2022 Experts point towards a lagging vaccination program and a failure in government messaging as factors behind the surge, which is now threatening to deluge hospitals across the country. Tara John, CNN, 20 Oct. 2021 In its desire to showcase all those shiny new ideas, Far Cry 6 puts its story on the backburner to deluge you with tutorials for countless new modes, upgrades, and abilities. Matt Gardner, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2021 Nicholas, the sixth Atlantic hurricane of 2021, is expected to deluge southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana with torrential rain for several days, posing a threat to flood-prone Houston and other low-lying areas. Robin Webb, sun-sentinel.com, 14 Sep. 2021 Newsom’s opportunity to deluge the state with financial assistance is unlikely to convert the most stalwart Republican voter. Melanie Mason Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2021 In all, a dozen associations along with 70 companies and law firms combined forces to deluge the FAA with comments. BostonGlobe.com, 13 Jan. 2021 Consumers with expensive texting or data plans could end up facing higher costs if debt collectors deluge them with messages. Aimee Picchi, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2020 In the Sanford area, large numbers of homes and businesses were deluged with water and mud. Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 27 May 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French deluje, from Latin diluvium, from diluere to wash away, from dis- + lavere to wash — more at lye
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
deluge 1 of 2
noun
del·uge ˈdel-yüj
1
: a flooding of land by water : flood
2
: a drenching rain
3
: a sudden huge stream of something
a deluge of mail
deluge
2 of 2verb
deluged; deluging
1
: flood entry 2 sense 1
2
: to overwhelm as if with a flood
We were deluged by questions.
deluging
verb
as in flooding
to cover with a flood deluged with requests for help Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- flooding
- engulfing
- overwhelming
- inundating
- drowning
- submerging
- swamping
- overflowing
- flushing
- gulfing
- submersing
- avalanching
- overcoming
- flowing
- sluicing
- smothering
- wetting
- overrunning
- drenching
- gushing
- pouring
- spurting
- streaming
- spouting
- soaking
- dousing
- dowsing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- draining
- drying
- parching
- dehydrating