Word Finder

DELUGE

d-e-l-u-g-e

Noun
Intermediate Level
6 Letters

Quick Definition

DELUGE means a severe flood or an overwhelming amount of something. From the biblical Great Flood to modern metaphors for information overload, this powerful word captures the essence of being overwhelmed. Worth 8 base points in Scrabble, DELUGE offers solid mid-range scoring with its mix of common and double-point letters.

Scrabble Points

8

Points in Scrabble

Base tile values • No multipliers applied

Definition & Meaning

DELUGE is a valid word in Scrabble and other word games. This word can earn you valuable points due to its letter composition.

Etymology & Origin

The etymology of DELUGE varies based on its origin and usage in the English language.

Did You Know?

  • The biblical deluge supposedly lasted 40 days and nights, but geological mega-floods like the Missoula Floods lasted weeks and carved entire landscapes.
  • Over 200 flood myths exist across world cultures, suggesting either shared experience or universal human fears about catastrophic flooding.
  • The 1931 China floods killed up to 4 million people, making it possibly the deadliest natural disaster in human history.
  • "Deluge" appears in titles of famous works like Leonardo da Vinci's deluge drawings and Polish Nobel laureate Sienkiewicz's historical novel.
  • Climate scientists predict a 7% increase in atmospheric moisture capacity per degree of warming, intensifying future deluges.

Usage Examples

""I played DELUGE on a triple word score and earned a huge number of points.""

""DELUGE is one of those words that can really boost your score in word games.""

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

Literal (Flooding):

  • • Flood
  • • Inundation
  • • Torrent
  • • Downpour
  • • Cloudburst

Figurative (Overwhelming):

  • • Avalanche
  • • Barrage
  • • Cascade
  • • Onslaught
  • • Spate

Antonyms

  • • Drought
  • • Trickle
  • • Drizzle
  • • Scarcity
  • • Dearth
  • • Shortage
  • • Sprinkle

Word Forms & Variations

DELUGEBase form (noun/verb)
DELUGEDPast tense/past participle
DELUGESPlural/3rd person singular
DELUGINGPresent participle

Related Words:

DILUVIALRelating to floods
DILUVIANOf the flood
ANTEDILUVIANBefore the flood; ancient

Types of Deluges

Natural Deluges

Flash Floods

Rapid onset from intense rainfall

River Flooding

Overflow from sustained precipitation

Coastal Deluges

Storm surge and tsunami events

Glacial Outbursts

Ice dam failures releasing meltwater

Metaphorical Deluges

Modern life presents numerous metaphorical deluges: information overload from 24/7 news cycles, email floods in corporate environments, social media notification streams, and data deluges in scientific research. Each represents the same fundamental challenge our ancestors faced with literal floods—being overwhelmed by forces beyond individual control.

Biblical & Mythological Context

The Great Deluge stands as humanity's most enduring catastrophe narrative. Genesis describes waters covering the highest mountains, destroying all terrestrial life save Noah's floating menagerie. This narrative profoundly shaped Western culture—"deluge" carries theological weight absent from synonyms like "flood." The story appears with variations across cultures: Mesopotamian Utnapishtim, Hindu Manu, Greek Deucalion, and numerous indigenous flood heroes.

Global Flood Myths:

  • Mesopotamian: Epic of Gilgamesh (predates biblical account)
  • Hindu: Vishnu saves Manu from world-ending floods
  • Greek: Zeus floods earth; Deucalion and Pyrrha survive
  • Native American: Various tribes describe great floods
  • Chinese: Gun-Yu flood control myths

Letter Analysis

Letter Distribution

D (2 pts)
1x
E (1 pts)
2x
L (1 pts)
1x
U (1 pts)
1x
G (2 pts)
1x

Total base points: 8 (Scrabble)

Vowels: 3 | Consonants: 3

Game Strategy

Mid-Range Scoring Word

DELUGE offers consistent 8-point value through its two 2-point letters (D and G). While not a high-scorer, its balanced structure and common letters make it reliable for rack management. The perfect 3:3 vowel-consonant split helps clear problematic tiles while maintaining playability.

Strategic Placement

  • • Position D or G on double/triple letter scores for maximum value
  • • Use DELUGE to open board sections while scoring respectably
  • • The word's length creates multiple crossing opportunities
  • • Consider DELUGED (+1 letter) or DELUGES (+1 letter) for extensions

Letter Management

DELUGE excels at clearing difficult letters. The G, often challenging to play, combines naturally here. Double E's provide flexibility for future plays. The word helps transition from consonant-heavy to balanced racks, making it valuable in mid-game situations.

💡 Pro Tip:

DELUGE shines when you need to clear problematic tiles while maintaining board position. Look for spots where the G lands on a double letter score—this alone adds 4 points. The word's familiar spelling reduces challenge risk, making it ideal for competitive play when you need guaranteed points.

Climate & Environmental Impact

Climate change transforms "deluge" from historical curiosity to urgent contemporary concern. Warming air holds more moisture—approximately 7% per degree Celsius—creating conditions for unprecedented precipitation events. What meteorologists once called "hundred-year floods" now occur every decade. Cities designed for historical rainfall patterns find themselves underwater as storm systems stall and dump months of rain in hours.

Modern Deluge Examples:

  • Houston 2017: Hurricane Harvey dropped 60 inches of rain
  • Germany 2021: European floods killed 200+ people
  • Pakistan 2022: Monsoon floods affected 33 million
  • Libya 2023: Dam failures during floods killed thousands

Urban planning now requires "deluge thinking"—designing for extremes rather than averages. Green infrastructure like rain gardens, permeable pavements, and urban wetlands attempt to mimic natural absorption. Some cities embrace "sponge city" concepts, treating the entire urban landscape as water management infrastructure. Yet implementation lags behind climate change acceleration, leaving millions vulnerable to future deluges.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Forgetting DELUGED

DELUGED is a valid past tense worth 10 points base. If DELUGE is already played, adding -D is often the simplest extension for extra points.

Missing Subset Words

DELUGE contains several shorter words: DUEL, GLUE, GLEE, EDGE, LED, GEL. If DELUGE doesn't fit, these alternatives might work with your tiles.

Spelling Confusion

Don't confuse DELUGE with similar words. It's not DILUGE or DELUJE. The U comes before the G, not after. Remember: DEL-U-GE.

Ignoring Hook Potential

DELUGE can take an S for DELUGES (plural/verb form). Don't waste this hook by blocking it unnecessarily. Plan ahead for potential S additions.

Similar High-Scoring Words

Words with Similar Point Values in Scrabble

Explore other words with D and G combinations

PUZZLE

26 points

QUARTZ

24 points

WIZARD

19 points

FROZEN

18 points

SPHINX

18 points

GALAXY

17 points

JUMPER

17 points

EXOTIC

15 points

Master This Word

Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like DELUGE