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 Meteorologists have also improved in their ability to detect and understand the storms that cause tornadoes, says Brett Borchardt, a senior meteorologist at Chicago’s National Weather Service. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026 These storms can include lightning, strong winds, and in some cases, fire tornadoes. — Emma Balleste, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026 The organization was created by a group of BBQ pitmasters after the deadly 2011 EF-5 tornado in Joplin, Missouri, with the purpose of feeding communities after disasters. — Darius Johnson, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, authorities are continuing to assess the damage from storms, floods, and at least five tornadoes, including three in southwest Chicago suburbs, that devastated the Midwest over the past two days. — Michelle Simmons, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tornado
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tornado
hurricane
Noun
  • Development odds plummeted to zero for another disturbance the hurricane center was tracking.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2026
  • That forecast also notably dropped its range for the overall number of major hurricanes — Category 3 or greater — from one to three to zero to two.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of hurricane

Browse Nearby Words

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 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tornado

Nglish: Translation of tornado for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tornado

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