Natural Disasters Vocabulary

noun a suppression or censorship of news or information

• The blackout was caused by a power grid failure.
• I missed the game because of the blackout last night.
• We had a blackout at the party and had to use candles for light.
• After the accident, he had a mental blackout and couldn't remember what happened.

noun a state of being consumed by fire

verb to be completely destroyed by fire

• The spacecraft will burn up upon re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.
• If you leave the cake in the oven too long, it will burn up.
• I forgot to put sunscreen on and now I feel like I'm going to burn up.
• Her anger seemed to burn up all of her energy, leaving her exhausted.

noun a sudden and violent event causing great destruction or upheaval, such as a flood or earthquake

• The cataclysm caused widespread destruction and loss of life in the region.
• The cataclysm totally messed up everything in its path.
• That cataclysm was a real doozy, huh?
• The breakup felt like a cataclysm, shattering my world into pieces.

adjective relating to or denoting a violent natural event

• The cataclysmic event caused widespread destruction and loss of life.
• The cataclysmic storm left the town in ruins.
• That party was cataclysmic, everyone had a great time!
• The cataclysmic breakup felt like the end of the world.

noun a heavy downpour of rain

verb to inundate with a great quantity of something

• The deluge of rain caused severe flooding in the area.
• We got caught in a deluge on our way to the store.
• The deluge of memes on social media was hilarious.
• After the scandal broke, there was a deluge of negative press coverage.

noun a sudden and violent shaking of the ground, typically causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust

• The earthquake measured 6.5 on the Richter scale, causing significant damage to buildings in the area.
• Did you feel that earthquake last night? It shook the whole house!
• That earthquake was no joke, it had me shaking in my boots!
• Her sudden outburst at the meeting was like an emotional earthquake, leaving everyone stunned.

noun a nickname for the Greek god Poseidon, who was believed to cause earthquakes

• The earthshaker event caused widespread destruction in the city.
• Did you feel that earthshaker just now? It shook the whole building!
• That earthquake was a real earthshaker, wasn't it?
• His powerful speech was like an earthshaker, moving the audience to action.

adjective describing something as having a significant or profound impact or effect

• The earthshaking earthquake caused widespread destruction in the region.
• That earthshaking news really caught everyone's attention.
• The concert was so earthshaking, it blew my mind.
• Her earthshaking performance on stage left the audience in awe.

verb to burst or break out suddenly and violently

• The volcano is expected to erupt at any moment, causing widespread destruction.
• When she found out the truth, she erupted in anger.
• The party was so crazy, it made me erupt with excitement.
• Emotions can erupt unexpectedly, like a volcano.

noun a severe shortage of food, as through crop failure or overpopulation

• The country experienced a severe famine due to the prolonged drought.
• There's a famine in the region because the crops didn't grow well this year.
• The famine situation is really bad, we need to do something to help.
• In the midst of emotional turmoil, he felt a famine of love and support.

noun a great flowing or overflowing of water, especially over land not usually submerged

verb to cover or submerge (a place or area) with water

• The flood caused extensive damage to the town's infrastructure.
• I heard there was a flood in the area last night.
• The rain was coming down so hard, it felt like a flood!
• The flood of emotions overwhelmed her as she listened to the heartfelt speech.

verb to cover or submerge with water, especially in excess

• The town was flooded after heavy rainfall caused the river to overflow.
• The basement got flooded because of the leaky pipe.
• The party was so crowded, it was flooded with people.
• Her mind was flooded with memories of their time together.

verb to produce or emit something, such as a smell or light

• The flowers in the garden give off a pleasant fragrance.
• The barbecue is giving off a lot of smoke.
• The new air freshener gives off a really nice scent.
• His confidence gives off a strong presence in the room.

noun a sudden and plentiful flow or outpouring

verb to flow out rapidly and plentifully

• The water gushed out of the broken pipe, causing a flood in the basement.
• I could hear the fans gushing about the new album release.
• She couldn't stop gushing about her new crush to her friends.
• Her emotions gushed out of her like a river, overwhelming her with feelings.

noun a storm with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone in the Caribbean.

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• The hurricane caused widespread destruction along the coast.
• We had to evacuate because of the hurricane.
• That hurricane was a real doozy!
• The emotional hurricane of their breakup left a path of devastation in its wake.

noun a flood or overwhelming abundance of something

• The city was hit by an inundation of floodwaters after the heavy rainstorm.
• The street was flooded with an inundation of water from the burst pipe.
• Dude, did you see the inundation of memes on social media last night?
• Her emotions were like an inundation, overwhelming her in a wave of sadness.

noun molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption

• The lava from the volcano flowed down the mountainside, destroying everything in its path.
• Dude, did you see that lava flow? It was insane!
• The lava was lit, bro!
• Her anger bubbled up inside her like molten lava.

noun a flash of light in the sky during a thunderstorm

verb present participle of lighten, meaning to make or become lighter in weight or color

• The lightening struck the tree with a loud crack.
• Did you see that lightening bolt? It was so bright!
• That lightening storm was lit!
• Her smile was like a bolt of lightening, brightening up the room instantly.

noun a sudden electrostatic discharge during an electrical storm

adjective pertaining to or resembling lightning

• The lightning struck the tallest building in the city.
• Did you see that lightning bolt last night? It was crazy!
• That lightning was lit af!
• His wit was as sharp as lightning in the midst of the heated debate.

noun a situation or state of confused movement or violent turmoil

• The ship was caught in a powerful maelstrom, making it difficult to navigate.
• I got caught in a maelstrom of emails after returning from vacation.
• The party turned into a total maelstrom once the drinks started flowing.
• Her emotions were a swirling maelstrom of conflicting feelings.

noun a sudden and violent display of emotion or reaction

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• The CEO's outburst during the meeting was unexpected and unprofessional.
• I couldn't believe the outburst my mom had when she found out I failed my test.
• His outburst was totally uncalled for, dude.
• Her emotions were like a volcanic outburst, erupting without warning.

noun a shaking or trembling movement of the earth's surface

verb to shake or tremble

• The earthquake caused a devastating quake that destroyed many buildings.
• Did you feel that quake last night? It was so strong!
• That quake was gnarly, dude!
• Her sudden outburst caused a quake in the office, shaking up everyone's emotions.

adjective having a strong, pungent odor or taste resembling smoke

• The air was filled with a smoky haze from the nearby forest fire.
• The barbecue was so good, it left a smoky smell on my clothes.
• I love the smoky flavor of this whiskey, it's so smooth.
• Her eyes were smoky with anger as she confronted him about the betrayal.

noun a large number or amount of something, especially in a brief period of time

• The recent spate of cyber attacks has raised concerns about data security.
• There has been a spate of car break-ins in the neighborhood lately.
• There's been a spate of drama on social media this week.
• A spate of emotions washed over her as she read the letter.

noun vomit or something that is forcefully expelled

verb to expel or eject forcefully

• The volcano began to spew ash and lava, causing widespread destruction.
• I accidentally spewed soda all over myself when I opened the can too quickly.
• She was so angry that she started to spew insults at everyone in the room.
• His speech was so full of lies that it seemed to spew falsehoods with every word.

verb to overwhelm or flood with water

adjective overwhelmed with an excessive amount of work or tasks

• The office was swamped with paperwork after the long weekend.
• I'm feeling swamped with all these assignments piling up.
• I'm totally swamped with work this week, I can't hang out.
• Her mind was swamped with thoughts of what could go wrong.

verb Swirling is a present participle form of the verb swirl, which means to move or cause to move in a twisting or spiraling pattern.

• The artist created a masterpiece with swirling brushstrokes of vibrant colors.
• I love watching the swirling patterns in the water when I stir my tea.
• The party was lit with everyone swirling on the dance floor.
• Emotions were swirling inside her, making it hard to focus on anything else.

noun a large ocean wave caused by an underwater earthquake or volcanic eruption

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• The coastal town was devastated by a massive tidal wave that swept through with incredible force.
• Dude, did you see that tidal wave at the beach? It was insane!
• That tidal wave was totally gnarly, bro!
• The sudden influx of new customers was like a tidal wave for the small business.

noun a violent windstorm characterized by a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud

• A tornado touched down in the rural area, causing significant damage to homes and crops.
• Did you hear about the tornado that ripped through the town last night?
• That tornado was gnarly, dude!
• Her emotions were like a tornado, swirling uncontrollably within her.

noun a long high sea wave caused by an earthquake, submarine landslide, or other disturbance

• The tsunami warning system detected a large wave approaching the coast.
• Did you hear about the tsunami warning issued for the coastal areas?
• That tsunami was gnarly, dude!
• The sudden influx of emails was like a tsunami hitting my inbox.

noun a game in which players take turns removing one block at a time from a tower and balancing it on top

• The tornado warning system alerted residents of the impending twister.
• We better hunker down in the basement, there's a twister coming our way!
• I heard that twister tore through the town last night, crazy stuff.
• Her emotions were like a twister, swirling out of control.

noun a tropical storm in the region of the Indian or western Pacific oceans.

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• The typhoon caused widespread destruction in the coastal regions.
• I heard there's a typhoon coming our way, better stock up on supplies.
• Dude, that typhoon was gnarly - it blew my roof off!
• The typhoon of emotions inside her made it hard to think clearly.

adjective describing something that is not regulated or restrained

• The uncontrolled spread of the virus has led to a surge in cases.
• The party got pretty uncontrolled after midnight.
• Things got totally uncontrolled at the concert last night.
• Her emotions were uncontrolled, like a wild storm raging inside her.

adjective unable to be controlled or restrained

• The patient's uncontrollable seizures required immediate medical attention.
• Her uncontrollable laughter filled the room during the comedy show.
• I tried to stop myself from eating the whole cake, but my uncontrollable sweet tooth won.
• The wildfire's uncontrollable spread threatened to engulf the entire forest.

adjective relating to or produced by a volcano or volcanoes

• The volcanic eruption caused widespread damage to the surrounding area.
• I heard that the volcanic mountain is going to blow soon.
• Dude, did you see that volcanic explosion on TV last night?
• Her temper was like a volcanic eruption, uncontrollable and destructive.

noun a storm with strong winds

• The windstorm caused extensive damage to the buildings in the area.
• Did you hear about the windstorm last night? It was crazy!
• That windstorm was a real doozy, wasn't it?
• The emotional turmoil felt like a windstorm raging inside her.

noun a geological feature characterized by a steep, downslope face

• The slip face of the dune is constantly changing due to the wind patterns.
• Watch out for the steep slip face when climbing up the sand dune.
• I nearly wiped out trying to ski down the slip face of the mountain.
• She felt like she was on the slip face of a steep slope, trying to keep up with her workload.

noun the point on the earth's surface vertically above the focus of an earthquake

• The epicentre of the earthquake was located near the fault line.
• The epicentre of the party was definitely the dance floor.
• That new restaurant is the epicentre of all the cool kids hanging out.
• Her emotions were the epicentre of the storm brewing inside her.

noun a type of storm that occurs along the East Coast of the United States, characterized by strong winds and heavy precipitation

• The town prepared for the upcoming nor'easter by stocking up on emergency supplies.
• I heard we're getting hit with a nor'easter tomorrow, so get ready to hunker down.
• I can't believe this nor'easter is gonna mess up our plans for the weekend.
• Just like a nor'easter, his temper came out of nowhere and caused chaos in the office.

noun the act or process of imploding

verb to collapse or burst inward violently

• The building's structural integrity was compromised, causing it to implode.
• I heard that the company is about to implode due to financial troubles.
• If you keep taking on so much stress, you're going to implode.
• The pressure of the situation caused her to feel like she was going to implode.

noun a particularly bad or critical situation or event arising from a combination of various unfavorable circumstances

• The economic downturn, coupled with political unrest and a global pandemic, created the perfect storm for a financial crisis.
• With the traffic jam, the rain, and the road construction, it was the perfect storm for being late to work.
• When my car broke down, my phone died, and I got lost, it was like the perfect storm of bad luck.
• The combination of her stressful job, relationship troubles, and health issues was the perfect storm for a mental breakdown.

noun a fire that burns in a forest or countryside, often spreading rapidly due to dry conditions

• The bushfire destroyed thousands of acres of land in the national park.
• Did you hear about the bushfire that happened last week?
• That bushfire was lit, it spread so quickly!
• The rumors about the scandal were like a bushfire, spreading rapidly throughout the office.

noun A short way of saying 'thunderstorm', a type of storm that is characterized by lightning and thunder

• The weather forecast predicts a chance of scattered T-storms in the afternoon.
• I heard there might be some T-storms rolling through later.
• Looks like we're in for a bit of a T-storm this evening.
• The heated argument between the two politicians was like a T-storm brewing on the horizon.

noun a natural phenomenon that forms when intense heat and turbulent wind conditions combine

• A fire whirl is a rare phenomenon that occurs during intense wildfires.
• Did you see that fire whirl during the forest fire yesterday? It was crazy!
• The fire whirl was spinning like a top, it was so cool!
• The chaos at the party was like a fire whirl, swirling out of control.

noun a vortex of air within a convective storm system

• The meteorologists detected a powerful mesocyclone forming within the supercell thunderstorm.
• Did you see that crazy mesocyclone swirling around in the storm?
• That mesocyclone was spinning like a top in the sky!
• Her emotions were like a mesocyclone, swirling out of control.

noun a combination of the words 'snow' and 'apocalypse' used to describe a severe or extreme snowstorm

• The city was unprepared for the snowpocalypse that hit last week, causing major transportation disruptions.
• Did you see the snowpocalypse outside? It's crazy!
• This snowpocalypse is no joke, we're gonna be stuck inside for days.
• The snowpocalypse of work emails flooded my inbox after the long weekend.

noun A portmanteau of 'blizzard' and 'disaster', used to describe a severe snowstorm or blizzard that causes significant damage or disruption.

• The town experienced a severe blizzaster, causing widespread power outages and road closures.
• I heard there's a blizzaster coming our way, better stock up on supplies!
• Dude, that blizzaster last winter was insane, we were snowed in for days!
• The blizzaster of criticism hit the author's new book, causing a wave of negative reviews.

noun a less common term for an aftershock, which is a smaller earthquake that follows a larger one

adjective describing something that occurs after an earthquake

• The government allocated funds for rebuilding efforts after the afterquake.
• We felt another aftershock after the afterquake last night.
• Did you hear about the afterquake hitting the city last week?
• The afterquake of the scandal caused a ripple effect throughout the company.