cataracts

noun

plural of cataract
1
as in waterfalls
a fall of water usually from a great height the roaring cataract is one of the park's most majestic sights

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in floods
a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms in spring the melting snows usually produce a cataract that inundates the valley

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cataracts Most cataracts develop slowly as part of the aging process when proteins and fibers in the eye’s lens break down and clump together. — Phil Galewitz, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026 My dad was fitted for a hearing aid and had surgery to remove his cataracts. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 15 Aug. 2026 Most cataracts develop slowly as part of the aging process when proteins and fibers in the eye's lens break down and clump together. — Phil Galewitz, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026 To make matters worse, Brit developed diabetic cataracts and became blind. — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 July 2026 Wearing sunglasses without the proper UV protection can lead to corneal sunburn, which increases the risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 22 July 2026 Hip dysplasia, cataracts and certain cardiac issues are three possible issues with Samoyeds. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026 There were few professional doctors, so healthcare came from midwives, bonesetters who also cut hair and removed cataracts, ministers, and community members, including apothecaries and plantation root doctors who were knowledgeable about plants. — Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 Many had cataracts, which can be treated in 5–10 minutes for $50 to $100. — Ashoka, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cataracts
  1. waterfalls
  2. floods
  3. falls
  4. torrents
  5. cascades
Noun
  • Charged drops, the team notes in the paper, form naturally in clouds, thunderstorms, ocean waves, fountains, and waterfalls, as well as in industrial processes like electrostatic spraying and inkjet printing.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The meltwater pouring off Bråsvellbreen like waterfalls, though breathtakingly beautiful, was another sobering reminder of the consequences of global warming.
    — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of waterfalls
Noun
  • The droughts, floods, and crop yield reductions brought on by El Niño represent one of the primary risk factors.
    — , CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The advancing gas front improves sweep efficiency by penetrating tight, unreached reservoir compartments that standard water-injection floods bypass during secondary extraction campaigns.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of floods
Noun
  • Older adults need muscle strength to perform everyday activities, maintain mobility and reduce their risk of falls.
    — Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Aside from losing blood while appearing to engage in self-harm, Hilton also suffered broken bones after taking a few falls that day, Tom revealed.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of falls
Noun
  • The rocks and melted water suddenly swelled the rivers in the valleys below, causing torrents of water that swept buildings, bridges and earth downstream in Tibet and Nepal.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Footage shows torrents of mud and debris sweeping through settlements and carrying buildings and vehicles with them.
    — Milad Haghani, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of torrents
Noun
  • The multi-billion-dollar project will install 24 cascades of gas centrifuges at the National Enrichment Facility in Eunice.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Spearfish Falls is one of three spectacular cascades in Spearfish Canyon—even prettier dressed in autumn foliage.
    — Jacqueline Kehoe, Midwest Living, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of cascades

Browse Nearby Words

cataract
cataracts
cat (around)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cataracts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cataracts. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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