Weather Thesaurus Entry: Rain




Sight: The presence of rain affects light, causing a grey, washed out look. The sky will be a blanket of dark cloud overhead, and fat droplets will leave dime sized wet patches on dry sidewalks. As rain quickens, wet darts pelt skin, buildings, cars, plants, glass, trees and roads, and creates a glossy look on smooth surfaces. Leaves and grass shake…

Smell: Rain is often accompanied by the smell of ozone (if lightning is present) and also cuts through any other local smells & pollution, leaving a fresh, crisp scent in the air.

Taste: Water, possibly an acrid aftertaste of pollution if near or in an urban area

Touch: Wet and cold go hand in hand, creating a clammy feeling of discomfort and heaviness as soaked clothing adheres to skin, hair hangs in wet slicks against the neck and forehead and water will drip into eyes and mouth. Body temperature drops, enducing shivering. Rain invades footwear and causes make up to run. Hard rain…

Sound: Rain can vary from a gentle plonking sound as it collides with foliage, earth and buildings, to a louder, more forceful drumming noise. The pitch of rain changes based on velocity and water droplet size. Glass muffles the sound of rain while metals, especially tin, can create…


Mood: Unless following hot weather, rain triggers a flight response. To avoid the cold, pelting rain, people will hurry to find shelter to stay dry until the rain passes. If the weather has been very hot, then rain can bring about a sense of relief and release built up air pressure. In the greater setting of a book, rain can create…


Depression, a heavy burden of responsibility, heavenly disfavor…

Possible Cliches:

Pairing the pain of losing a loved one with rain, having rain be a conduit to showing a morose/depressed character’s…






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11 Responses to Weather Thesaurus Entry: Rain

  1. Pamela says:

    So glad i found this site, thank you.

  2. I used to love to dance in the rain when I was a kid. Brings back sweet memories the sound of the drops hitting the bucket on your head, and the splish-splash of the puddles that would send your mother into a raving fit when you returned(just kidding, my mother encouraged us to do so.).

  3. Beth says:

    This is a great post. The cliches are hard to avoid, but I love your suggestions!

  4. D.B. Smyth says:

    SOOOO glad I read this! *opens wip and removes all cliche weather patterns* Somedays I’m such a noob!

  5. Julie Musil says:

    Another great addition to an already great thesaurus. Thanks so much!

  6. Wonderful post. I love how you broke it all down by the senses.

  7. Kelly says:

    Rain can convey so many emotions and setting depending on what kind of rain.
    A light sprinkle could be refreshing. A downpour could ruin plans. A storm could be frightening.
    Great entry!

  8. Kristen says:

    This is so right on! My first ms had a lot wind, but no other weather patterns in it, and when people would read it they would say, “Why is it always windy? The poor kid is always getting blown around.”
    Now I’m more aware of weather and I especially love your point about how heat makes everyone a little easier to boil over. Bravo.

  9. Karen Lange says:

    This is helpful! Thanks! 🙂

  10. It’s raining great writing advice in here.

  11. I actually just edited out a rain scene from my current piece. It was completely the cliched “I’m sad and now it’s raining like the pain in my heart” scene.

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