WESTERLY Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

westerly

noun

Definition of westerly

as in gale

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 westerly Wendling, the most north-westerly site of all and barely in the valley, turns the same cool end darker, toward plum, blackberry and savoury earth. — Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 First, through a combination of weaker trade winds and westerlies over the tropical Atlantic, La Niña tends to create a more placid atmosphere. — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 20 May 2024 Their modest city saw an influx of evacuees from nearby rural and coastal regions soon after hot westerlies sent walls of flame into a string of towns and villages around New Year's Eve. — NBC News, 11 Jan. 2020 As the land cools in the autumn, north-easterly winds replace the south-westerlies (see map). — The Economist, 27 June 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for westerly

Noun

As the nor’easter began to take shape, gale-force winds began pushing water over hundreds of miles of the Atlantic toward the coast.

— Brian Tang, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
Inland wind gusts could reach 25 to 30 mph, with gale-force gusts possible over the water.

— Bridget Byrne, Baltimore Sun, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of gale

Noun

The gusty offshore winds combined with very warm and dry conditions will maintain Red Flag Warnings for most of Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Saturday.

— CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Persist toward Ithaca, but be prepared to correct your course as the winds and circumstances change.

— Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of wind

Noun

Now, in yet another blow to national self-esteem, the ex-head of Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND, has been arrested on charges of exploiting state secrets.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 17 Oct. 2026
The pro-Western opposition parties won big Saturday in the Czech Republic’s vote to fill one-third of the seats in Parliament’s upper house, the Senate, handing a blow to the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of blow

Noun

The ocean keeps coming because of climate change, sea level rise, nor'easters, hurricanes, et cetera.

— Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 8 July 2023
That morning, around 6, authorities found O'Keefe on the ground outside the Canton home just before a nor'easter struck the town with 21 inches of snow.

— Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 26 May 2023

Definition of northeaster

Noun

Despite currency headwinds, concert, merchandise and licensing revenues are expected to reach record levels.

— Jenny Lee,Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Observers speculated that the Q3 results are likely to be extremely disappointing for the streamer, which is already facing some tough headwinds.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of headwind

Browse Nearby Words

westerlies

westerly

wet

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Westerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/westerly. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of westerly

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on westerly

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes