tornado

noun

Definition of tornadonext
as in hurricane
a violent and destructive storm in which powerful winds move around a central point A siren alerted the town that they were in the path of a tornado. a tornado warning

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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 tornado Two tornadoes, a metro-area rarity, upped the ante in August, whipping through parts of Queens and Long Island. — Matthew Schneier, Curbed, 27 Aug. 2026 Once the whirlwinds make landfall, they are classified as tornados and this one had maximum winds of 85 mph, meteorologists say. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026 In addition to the derecho, there were also tornadoes, including a 26-mile-long EF2 twister that touched down in Illinois and went into Indiana, according to the National Weather Service. — Phil Helsel, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026 The tornado wreaked havoc in the village of 1,000 inhabitants, reducing homes to rubble and destroying numerous cars. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tornado
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tornado
hurricane
Noun
  • Tropical Storm Edouard is expected to strengthen and could approach hurricane strength before making landfall.
    — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Tropical storm warnings and a hurricane watch are in place along the Texas and Louisiana coasts near the state line.
    — Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of hurricane

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torn
tornado
tornadoes
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Cite this Entry

“Tornado.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tornado. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tornado

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tornado

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