Vocabulary Spotlight
Deluge
Part of Speech: Noun / Verb
Definition: A severe flood or a large quantity of things arriving at the same time; also used as a verb meaning to overwhelm or inundate with a flood or large amount.
“After the announcement, the company was deluged with job applications.”
Pronunciation
[del-yooj]
Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words
Synonyms
Overflow
Inundation
Torrent
Swarm
Antonyms
Dryness
Scarcity
Trickle
Drizzle
Related Words
Overwhelm (verb)
Word Origin
“Deluge” originates from the Latin word “diluvium,” meaning “flood.” It entered the English language in the late Middle Ages, initially referring to biblical floods and later to any overwhelming quantity.
Word Family
Noun: Deluge – A large flood or overwhelming quantity of something.
Verb: Deluge – To flood or overwhelm with a large quantity.
Mnemonics
Remember “deluge” by thinking of “downpour large” – a huge and overwhelming amount of water or things.
Industry-specific Usage
Environmental Science
In environmental studies, deluge refers to excessive rainfall or flooding, impacting ecosystems and infrastructure.
Customer Service
Customer support teams may experience a deluge of inquiries during high-demand periods, requiring efficient handling.
Information Technology
In IT, a server may be deluged with requests during a high-traffic event, requiring load balancing solutions.
In Context
Deluge is often used to describe overwhelming quantities, whether in the form of water, information, or tasks. It highlights situations where something arrives in such abundance that it requires significant effort to manage.