Avalanche-Landslide | Commonly Confused Words
Learn languages with fun

Master confusing words with ease

Avalanche vs. Landslide

Avalanche

/ˈævəlɑːntʃ/
A sudden, large amount of snow and ice falling down a mountain or a large amount of something suddenly coming or occurring.

Examples:

Two people survived being swept up in an avalanche.Rescuers worked tirelessly after the avalanche struck.The village was buried under a sudden avalanche of snow.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Landslide

/ˈlændslaɪd/
A large mass of earth and rock moving downward on a slope

Examples:

The earthquake triggered a landslide.Votes poured in, predicting a landslide victory.Heavy rains caused a landslide on the mountain trail.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Landslides involve the movement of rock, earth, or debris down a slope, usually due to heavy rain or erosion.
  • Avalanches specifically involve snow and ice cascading down a mountain or slope.
  • Landslides can occur in any terrain that's susceptible to erosion, while avalanches occur in snow-covered regions.
  • Landslides can happen as a result of human activity, like construction or deforestation, whereas avalanches are often caused by natural elements like heavy snowfall or warming temperatures.
  • Vehicles and buildings are more likely to be impacted by landslides due to their terrain occurrence, while skiers and hikers are common victims of avalanches.
© 2025 Lithium Lab Pte Ltd