white squall
Calm sea's ambush
A white squall is a sudden, violent windstorm at sea that arrives with little warning and no dark clouds—the sky may remain clear or show only white-capped waves, making it especially dangerous.
The term appears in nautical contexts and was popularized by the 1996 film of the same name: The white squall struck without warning, capsizing the vessel.
Fraught with danger
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- deadlyAble to cause expiration
- hazardousLikely to cause injury
catastrophic · destructive · violent · fierce · severe · terrifying · capsizing · swamping
Localized descending air blast
- downburstSudden descending windstorm
- waterspoutMarine vortex phenomenon
- wind shearRapid atmospheric velocity shift
- burstBreak apart suddenly
outbreak · onslaught · whiteout · unpredicted · atmospheric · meteorological
Multi-masted sailing craft
- brigantineTwo-masted mixed-rig vessel
- yachtLarge pleasure vessel
- clipperFast ship or trimmer
- mastVessel's sail support
Sharp and unexpected
- instantaneousHappening without any delay
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- swiftMoving with speed
rapid · immediate · unanticipated · without warning · split-second · flash · striking · blindsiding
- 1996Late twentieth-century year
- AlbatrossLarge oceanic tube-nosed bird
- coming-of-ageYouth becoming adulthood
- true storyNarrative of actual events
Jeff Bridges · sailing ship · Caribbean · tragedy · discipline · camaraderie · sail training
perilous
Fraught with danger
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- deadlyAble to cause expiration
hazardous · catastrophic · destructive · violent · fierce · severe · terrifying · capsizing · swamping · foundering
microburst
Localized descending air blast
- downburstSudden descending windstorm
- waterspoutMarine vortex phenomenon
- wind shearRapid atmospheric velocity shift
burst · outbreak · onslaught · whiteout · unpredicted · atmospheric · meteorological
schooner
Multi-masted sailing craft
- brigantineTwo-masted mixed-rig vessel
- yachtLarge pleasure vessel
- clipperFast ship or trimmer
mast · rigging · helm · sail · crew · captain · deck · bow · stern · starboard
abrupt
Sharp and unexpected
- instantaneousHappening without any delay
- unforeseenNot predicted or expected
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
swift · rapid · immediate · unanticipated · without warning · split-second · flash · striking · blindsiding · unpredictable
Ridley Scott
- 1996Late twentieth-century year
- AlbatrossLarge oceanic tube-nosed bird
- coming-of-ageYouth becoming adulthood
Jeff Bridges · true story · sailing ship · Caribbean · tragedy · discipline · camaraderie · sail training
white squallcalm
Free from agitation
dead calm · gentle breeze · mild weather · fair weather · clear skies
white, squall, whiter, whitest, whiten, whitened, whitening, whitens, whiteness