Meaning & use
tsunami
A very large, powerful ocean wave usually caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption.
See it in a sentence
The earthquake triggered a tsunami that devastated coastal towns within minutes.
Warning sirens gave residents just enough time to reach higher ground before the tsunami hit.
A note on using this word
Tsunami comes from Japanese and is technically more accurate than the older term tidal wave, since the waves are unrelated to tides.
Words with a similar meaning
tidal wave
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