as in vortex
water moving rapidly in a circle with a hollow in the center
our rubber raft got caught in a maelstrom in a particularly rough stretch of white water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 maelstrom
Season 17 has thus far been a maelstrom of conflict, between Jewels vs. Onya, Suzie vs. the World, and a slew of other minor spats that on other seasons would be the most notable fight of the episode.
—
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
Horwitz’s abrupt death plunged Brooks not just into confusion and profound grief, but also into the disorienting maelstrom of tasks that are demanded of those left behind.
—Karen Campbell, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Feb. 2025
The latter came crashing down as well, trapping dozens of men, women and children beneath a maelstrom of steel and masonry.
—Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025
On Monday, worries about the impact of the political maelstrom on France’s public finances briefly pushed the government’s borrowing costs above those of Greece.
—Lauren Kent, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for maelstrom
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
Horwitz’s abrupt death plunged Brooks not just into confusion and profound grief, but also into the disorienting maelstrom of tasks that are demanded of those left behind.
—Karen Campbell, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Feb. 2025
The latter came crashing down as well, trapping dozens of men, women and children beneath a maelstrom of steel and masonry.
—Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025
On Monday, worries about the impact of the political maelstrom on France’s public finances briefly pushed the government’s borrowing costs above those of Greece.
—Lauren Kent, CNN, 4 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for maelstrom
Cite this Entry
“Maelstrom.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maelstrom. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share