tempestuous

adjective

tem-ˈpes-chə-wəs How to pronounce tempestuous (audio)
Definition of tempestuousnext
1
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity order was restored to the court after the judge put a stop to the defendant's tempestuous outburst

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2
as in turbulent
marked by sudden or violent disturbance in terms of social change, the 1960s are generally considered the most tempestuous decade in recent American history

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3
as in rough
marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements we spent a tempestuous night stranded on the summit of the mountain

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4
as in bleak
marked by wet and windy conditions stay indoors this weekend as the weather promises to be tempestuous

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tempestuous Perhaps even more challenging than all that – at least initially – is the tempestuous relationship that develops between Hal and John. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026 Jodie Hollander Finds Unlikely Inspiration Writing on Location During my tempestuous teenage years, I was attracted to the work of Sylvia Plath. — Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026 My first match with Taylor was as his assistant on a tempestuous game between Leicester City and Watford in 2007 that produced 11 yellow cards and a mass brawl. — David Ornstein, New York Times, 21 July 2026 In the Faroe Islands, Nature Rewards Patience The remote archipelago is welcoming more visitors every year—but a tempestuous climate and steadfast way of life encourage travelers to bend. — Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tempestuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempestuous
  1. violent
  2. turbulent
  3. rough
  4. ferocious
  5. fierce
  6. furious
  7. volcanic
Adjective
  • That, in turn, reveals a family history of violent gravitational instability caused by events like giant collisions and planetary ejections.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The show, which can certainly be tense, spends more time on being funny than violent.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of violent
Adjective
  • The escalation comes at an increasingly turbulent time for the Middle East’s aviation sector.
    — Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Since Pollock was a turbulent man, living with him was never very calm.
    — Barbara Rose, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • The Dallas Cowboys are bringing former NFL coach Mike Pettine out of retirement to serve as a senior assistant to defensive coordinator Christian Parker, whose debut in his new position is off to a rough start.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Tampa Bay Rays are staring down a rough start to the American League Championship Series.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of rough
Adjective
  • In the Atlantic, not a single hurricane has formed yet, a record for this late into hurricane season, due to ferocious wind shear brought on by El Niño.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • When the Heat acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo in June, the natural instinct was to focus on the prodigious point production (57th all time), the volume rebounding (71st all time), the thunderous dunks and the ferocious forays to the basket.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of ferocious
Adjective
  • His successor, Bennett, had been among its fiercest critics, raising the prospect that the arrangement might finally end.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The deadly fire erupted Saturday at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, where fierce winds fueled flames that spread beyond the installation and into surrounding rural areas.
    — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of fierce
Adjective
  • Before long there were three squad cars with lights flashing parked in the drive, with a furious Grandpa Joe trying to sort out the trouble.
    — Kerry Kennedy, Vanity Fair, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The conflicts are raw and unresolved, and Churchill forces theatergoers to make up their own minds about the characters’ furious dialect.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of furious
Adjective
  • Explore its waterfalls, glaciers and volcanic landscapes, and treat any aurora sightings as an extraordinary bonus.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • No, Rome was not built in a day, but it was built at breathtaking speed, its temples, amphitheaters, and aqueducts rising with the help of a magical blend of volcanic ash and lime.
    — Sara Herschander, Vox, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of volcanic

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tempests
tempestuous
temple
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Cite this Entry

“Tempestuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempestuous. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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