tumultuous

adjective

tu̇-ˈməl-chə-wəs How to pronounce tumultuous (audio)
Definition of tumultuousnext
1
as in turbulent
marked by sudden or violent disturbance one of the most tumultuous periods in the history of the region

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2
as in rough
marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements watched the tumultuous weather from the dry safety of our house

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3
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity after a tumultuous day of trading, the stock market was down 500 points

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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 tumultuous Friends of the couple previously said the two had a tumultuous relationship. — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 The couple had some tumultuous times, getting entangled in a love triangle with fellow Disney Channel star Miley Cyrus at one point. — Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2026 Nearly three months after surviving its launch to space and a tumultuous trial at sea, the first Starship spacecraft to survive its ocean splashdown has returned to Starbase. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026 After a tumultuous childhood, Crawford’s adult life was filled with dwellings that offered some comfort and stability amid a personal life that was rife with difficulties, ranging from alcoholism to unhappy relationships. — Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tumultuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumultuous
  1. turbulent
  2. rough
  3. violent
  4. ferocious
  5. fierce
  6. furious
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
  • 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
  • After the initial blast, which spews out gamma rays, a storm of radiation pours into the surrounding galaxy, creating a ferocious afterglow that burns in every part of the electromagnetic spectrum.
    — Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The characters thrust and parry with ferocious wit in an upscale California desert setting that scenic designer Scott Pask generically satirizes as a category of social living.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 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

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tumults
tumultuous
tumultuously
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Cite this Entry

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

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