What's the difference between deluge and downpour?

Deluge


Definition:

  • (n.) A washing away; an overflowing of the land by water; an inundation; a flood; specifically, The Deluge, the great flood in the days of Noah (Gen. vii.).
  • (n.) Fig.: Anything which overwhelms, or causes great destruction.
  • (v. t.) To overflow with water; to inundate; to overwhelm.
  • (v. t.) To overwhelm, as with a deluge; to cover; to overspread; to overpower; to submerge; to destroy; as, the northern nations deluged the Roman empire with their armies; the land is deluged with woe.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) In Kew Gardens, west London, 18mm of rain fell in just an hour on Saturday afternoon with other deluges causing travel misery.
  • (2) The historic and devastating floods in Louisiana are the latest in a series of heavy deluges that some climate scientists warn will become even more common as the world continues to warm.
  • (3) Among their choicest memories from last year, they tell me, are watching shoals of goldfish swim down their street, and coming home to find Derrick's model boat collection bobbing on the deluge.
  • (4) But in recent weeks a deluge of "best ever" deals means borrowers can now access the lowest two-, three- and five-year fixed rates since 1989 when fixed-rate home loans became available, according to data provider Moneyfacts.
  • (5) At first, the sheer deluge of random faces, selfies, girls kissing other girls (is that a thing nowadays?)
  • (6) The Bank has been raising concerns about the potential liquidity risk in the financial system for some time but will now ask fund managers how they would handle a deluge of requests from investors to redeem their cash.
  • (7) Our helpline (0800 970 9690) has been noticeably busier in the last week as letters have landed on people’s doormats and we are set for a deluge of calls as a result of the chancellor’s comments today as people seek advice on how to sort out their tax affairs.
  • (8) Bloomsbury Auctions in Mayfair, which handled the sale, was deluged with interest in the lot which had been given a guide price of between £6000 and £8000.
  • (9) They could be seen as an incentive scheme, to make up for the fact that the pay is often less than in the private sector (though I'm not sure the swan marker would be deluged with offers outside the palace).
  • (10) The deluge of old images of the destruction of Sarajevo, the videos of Mladic talking to the soon-to-be-dead men and boys of Srebrenica , the scores of commentators discussing the legal technicalities of his extradition and indictment, the statements of politicians congratulating Serbia for arresting the war criminal who lived freely for 16 years, some people of Serbia and some Serbs in Bosnia demonstrating in support of Mladic – it all brings a new kind of pain, one that adds insult to injury.
  • (11) Now, after decades of remaining quietly out of the national spotlight, the gentle hillsides and country lanes of the Yorkshire Wolds are preparing for a deluge of attention brought on by interest in David Hockney's latest paintings.
  • (12) Gretchen Carlson's lawyer: 'deluge' of women have complaints about Ailes Read more Carlson’s lawyers, Nancy Erika Smith and Martin Hyman, said their client intends to pursue her right to a public jury trial.
  • (13) Sir John Hegarty, the president of the film jury at the Cannes Lions advertising festival, has warned that the deluge of internet campaigns is threatening to prevent traditional TV commercials getting the recognition they deserve at the industry's premier global awards.
  • (14) An insolvency specialist today warned of a "deluge" of business failures next year, saying the UK is in the mid-point of a W-shaped recession.
  • (15) That effort backfired as Israel faced a deluge of embarrassing revelations about the case which appeared to expose the detailed workings of its overseas intelligence agency in the most graphic detail, as well as the growing irritation of Israel's allies over the Mossad's behaviour.
  • (16) That’s largely based on extrapolating extreme – and unjustifiable – cases of abuse: as somebody who has been deluged with rightwing abuse, I’ve never tried to argue that those behind it are representative of the right.
  • (17) Still, she could have been little prepared for the deluge of publicity on Friday, when Argyll and Bute council was forced into a humiliating climbdown over a decision to effectively close the blog, by banning photography in the school dining hall.
  • (18) How do we sift through this deluge of data to find the right insights?
  • (19) Concerns about halal certifications have circulated among critics of Islam for years but became prominent last November after a South Australian dairy company was deluged with abuse on social media for deciding to certify its products.
  • (20) Despite the anticipated deluge of screening examinations in the next decade, there were only 17 fellowships that included at least 6 months of mammography identified in 15 (7%) of the institutions; only 11 of these were full-time 1-year breast imaging fellowships.

Downpour


Definition:

  • (n.) A pouring or streaming downwards; esp., a heavy or continuous shower.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Some retailers said April's downpours led to pent-up demand which was unleashed at the first sign of summer, with shoppers rushing to update their summer wardrobes.
  • (2) The warm weather will not reach all parts of the country, however – with pockets of north-west England still expecting showery downpours this weekend.
  • (3) Boxing Day sales shoppers were soaked as downpours continued across the country on Wednesday, and there were warnings that an Atlantic storm would bring more heavy rain at the weekend.
  • (4) Downpours of up to 40-50mm could fall in the next 24 hours as the rain reaches Lancashire and Cumbria initially and then crosses the Pennines, gaining in intensity.
  • (5) Hart conceded his mistake at Ludovic Obraniak's corner had cost his team – "I came out and didn't get there, so it's my fault and that's cost us the three points," he said – even if the home side merited their point on a stodgy surface that was still saturated from the downpour the previous night.
  • (6) Kerry McQuade whose home perched high up on Blenheim Street avoided the worst effects, said: "We had two hours of a torrential downpour, followed by continual rain, from lunchtime.
  • (7) In London, the Thames Barrier was raised on Thursday morning for the first time since March 2010, to reduce the risk of flooding as water from days of downpours causes high levels further upstream.
  • (8) We have seen upsets and outbursts, sunshine and downpours, staggering exits and gaudy new arrivals.
  • (9) The downpour notwithstanding, a few hundred people gathered in the square erupted in applause and shouted Obama’s name as the first family stepped forward.
  • (10) A succession of storms, some very high tides and incessant downpours this winter have brought into stark relief Britain's exposure to the weather.
  • (11) As for the rainstorm in the US, its fatal unpredictability was shown when a Thursday morning downpour dumped 4 inches on Spartanburg, South Carolina, causing flash floods that submerged several cars.
  • (12) "There is also an ongoing risk of flooding from groundwater, particularly in Dorset, and some larger rivers like the Thames and Severn are still rising as they slowly respond to the recent downpours.
  • (13) Thames Water , one of seven companies in southern and eastern England that introduced restrictions on water use on 5 April, said the recent downpours may have staved off further curbs against drought but did not amount to "a long-term fix".
  • (14) The environment select committee's report also said the government's spending by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to protect homes from flooding is not keeping pace with the rising risk, which is increasing as climate change intensifies downpours, and were also failing to act effectively to block the building of new homes on floodplains.
  • (15) Lee’s coffin, draped in Singapore’s red-and-white flag and protected from the downpour by a glass casing, lay atop a ceremonial gun carriage that was solemnly led past city landmarks from parliament to a cultural centre where the state funeral was held.
  • (16) More heavy downpours will continue on Thursday and Friday as fresh bands of rain sweep east, followed by a storm this weekend.
  • (17) The deluge that has engulfed southern and central England in recent weeks is the worst winter downpour in almost 250 years, according to figures from the world's longest-running weather station.
  • (18) Many residents say the Environment Agency should have pumped water away from the moors sooner following the spring downpours and claim it is not doing enough to keep rivers and streams dredged or to find alternative ways to store floodwater.
  • (19) The report reveals that while downpours and storms have not been out of the ordinary, their frequency has been.
  • (20) Warmer temperatures and frequent downpours speed up the breeding cycles of the insects.