barrage

/ˈbæɹɑːʒ/

Group 21Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(noun)
A concentrated outpouring, as of questions or complaints
GRE

Example in Context

The press secretary faced a barrage of hostile questions about the administration's handling of the intelligence failure.

Synonyms

floodtorrentbombardment

Etymology

Originally a French term for a barrier, now describing a flood of something.

  • barrager (French) — to impede

Memory Aid

🧔Sounds like “beard rage

Imagine a man with BEARD RAGE shouting a BARRAGE of complaints at an unsuspecting barber!

Visual Association

💥A giant wave of questions crashing down on a person at a trivia night, drowning them in a barrage of inquiries.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “barrage” mean on the GRE?

barrage (noun) means “A concentrated outpouring, as of questions or complaints”. The press secretary faced a barrage of hostile questions about the administration's handling of the intelligence failure.

How to remember “barrage” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “barrage” sounds like “beard rage”. Imagine a man with BEARD RAGE shouting a BARRAGE of complaints at an unsuspecting barber!

What are synonyms for “barrage”?

Common synonyms: flood, torrent, bombardment.