What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
avalanche
Example
The skiers were caught in an avalanche and had to be rescued. [avalanche: noun]
Example
The news of the scandal caused an avalanche of criticism from the public. [avalanche: metaphorical usage]
flood
Example
The heavy rain caused the river to flood, damaging many houses. [flood: verb]
Example
After the announcement, there was a flood of applications for the job. [flood: metaphorical usage]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Flood is more commonly used than avalanche in everyday language. Flood is a versatile term that can be used in various contexts, such as weather, disasters, or even metaphorically to describe a large amount of something overwhelming. On the other hand, avalanche is less common and is primarily associated with snow-related disasters.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between avalanche and flood?
While avalanche is typically associated with a more formal tone due to its specific nature, flood is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.