tidal

[ tahyd-l ]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characterized by, or subject to tides: tide:

   a tidal current.

2. dependent on the state of the tide as to time of departure:

   a tidal steamer.

tidal

/ ˈtaɪdəl /

adjective

1. relating to, characterized by, or affected by tides

   a tidal estuary

2. dependent on the state of the tide

   a tidal ferry

3. (of a glacier) reaching the sea and discharging floes or icebergs

Derived Forms

• ˈtidally, adverb

Other Words From

• tidal·ly adverb
• non·tidal adjective
• un·tidal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tidal¹

First recorded in 1800–10; tide ¹ + -al ¹

Example Sentences

In the modern era, it has had flaws introduced by SCOTUS, like the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, the unleashing of a tidal wave of big money into our politics, the myriad ways that, if we were to design a sort of platonic democracy, we would not include.

From Slate

The California Coastal Commission is asking the public to photograph high tidal waters for its King Tides Project, a community-led effort to help the public understand the effect of rising sea levels on coastal areas.

From Los Angeles Times

This election was an emotional tidal wave, one that's engulfed the whole world in the wake of the pandemic, the trauma of which we clearly have yet to fully process.

From Salon

The problem is that when tidal waves recede they leave a tremendous amount of damage in their wake and I'm afraid it's going to be especially devastating in America.

From Salon

Democrats have been banking on a tidal wave of support from Black voters, drawn by the chance to elect the first Black female president and by revulsion toward former President Donald J. Trump, whose questioning of Ms. Harris’s racial identity, comments on “Black jobs” and demonizing of Haitian immigrants pushed his long history of racist attacks to the forefront of the campaign.

From Salon

Related Words

• falling
• rolling
• running
• sinuous
• streaming