Spate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈspāt/

Meaning & Definition of Spate

Spate (noun)

  1. freshet, flood
  2. a large number or amount
  3. a sudden or strong outburst, rush

Spate (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a great flow of water or of something that overwhelms

    "a spate of words has been published on this controversial topic"

    similar: alluvion, bath, cataclysm, cataract, deluge, flood, flood tide, inundation, Niagara, overflow, torrent
    related: current, river, stream, tide, cloudburst, discharge, flush, gush, outflow, outpouring, flux, inflow, influx, engulfment, washout, avalanche, blizzard, cascade, waterfall, excess, glut, overabundance, overage, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus
    opposite: drought
    near: dribble, drip, trickle

  2. a considerable amount

    "an off-color remark that drew a spate of complaints from TV viewers"

    similar: abundance, barrel, basketful, boatload, bucket, bunch, bundle, bushel, carload, chunk, deal, dozen, fistful, gobs, good deal, heap, hundred, lashings (chiefly British), loads, lot, mass, mess, mountain, much, multiplicity, myriad, oodles, pack, passel, peck, pile, plateful, plenitude, plentitude, plenty, pot, potful, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, scads, sheaf, shipload, sight, slew, stack, store, ton, truckload, volume, wad, wealth, yard, all kinds (of), quite a bit
    related: epidemic, plague, rash, bonanza, embarrassment, excess, overabundance, overage, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, plethora, redundancy, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus, deluge, flood, overflow, army, bevy, cram, crowd, crush, drove, flock, herd, horde, host, legion, mob, multitude, press, score, sea, swarm, throng, gazillion, jillion, kazillion, million, thousands, trillion, zillion
    opposite: ace, bit, dab, dram, driblet, glimmer, handful, hint, lick, little, mite, mouthful, nip, ounce, peanuts, pinch, pittance, scruple, shade, shadow, smidgen, speck, spot, sprinkle, sprinkling, strain, streak, suspicion, tad, taste, touch, trace
    near: atom, crumb, dot, fleck, flyspeck, fragment, grain, granule, iota, jot, modicum, molecule, mote, nubbin, particle, ray, scintilla, scrap, shred, tittle, whit, smatter, smattering, dash, drop, morsel, shot, piece, portion, section, absence, dearth, famine, lack, paucity, poverty, scarceness, scarcity, shortage, undersupply, want, deficiency, deficit, inadequacy, insufficiency, meagerness, scantiness, scantness, skimpiness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Spate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Spate:

Chiefly British: lashings
alluvion, bath, cataclysm, cataract, deluge, flood, flood tide, inundation, Niagara, overflow, torrent, abundance, barrel, basketful, boatload, bucket, bunch, bundle, bushel, carload, chunk, deal, dozen, fistful, gobs, good deal, heap, hundred, loads, lot, mass, mess, mountain, much, multiplicity, myriad, oodles, pack, passel, peck

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Spate

Words with the opposite meaning of Spate:

drought, ace, bit, dab, dram, driblet, glimmer, handful, hint, lick, little, mite, mouthful, nip, ounce, peanuts, pinch, pittance, scruple, shade, shadow, smidgen, speck, spot, sprinkle, sprinkling, strain, streak, suspicion, tad

Related Words for Spate

current, river, stream, tide, cloudburst, discharge, flush, gush, outflow, outpouring, flux, inflow, influx, engulfment, washout, avalanche, blizzard, cascade, waterfall, excess, glut, overabundance, overage, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus

Near Antonyms of Spate

dribble, drip, trickle, atom, crumb, dot, fleck, flyspeck, fragment, grain, granule, iota, jot, modicum, molecule, mote, nubbin, particle, ray, scintilla, scrap, shred, tittle, whit, smatter, smattering, dash, drop, morsel, shot

Origin & Etymology of Spate

Middle English

First known use: 15th century

Words & Phrases Containing Spate

in spate

Frequently Asked Questions about Spate

What does "Spate" mean?

"Spate" means freshet, flood. As a noun, it is defined as: freshet, flood. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Spate"?

Other words for "Spate" include alluvion, bath, cataclysm, cataract, deluge, flood, flood tide and inundation. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Spate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Spate"?

There are 129 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Spate". Common alternatives include alluvion, bath, cataclysm, cataract, deluge, flood, flood tide, inundation, Niagara and overflow.

What is the opposite of "Spate"?

Antonyms of "Spate" include drought, ace, bit, dab, dram, driblet, glimmer and handful. Near antonyms include dribble, drip, trickle and atom.

How do you use "Spate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Spate" in a sentence: "a spate of words has been published on this controversial topic"; "an off-color remark that drew a spate of complaints from TV viewers".

Is "Spate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Spate" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Spate"?

"Spate" is pronounced /ˈspāt/.

What is the origin of the word "Spate"?

"Spate" comes from Middle English. First known use: 15th century.