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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 Bondi's turbulent first year at DOJ The attorney general's appearance before the committee comes one year into her tenure atop the Justice Department, a tumultuous period marked by a striking departure from the traditions and norms that have guided the department for decades. Elena Moore, NPR, 11 Feb. 2026 But the world does not reward the wicked, and their tumultuous relationship sparks tragedy for them and the people in their lives. Amanda Luberto, AZCentral.com, 11 Feb. 2026 After a tumultuous debut edition set against the tense backdrop of German elections and the escalating war in Gaza, Berlin Film Festival director Tricia Tuttle returns for her sophomore year with rock solid determination. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 10 Feb. 2026 Both Lau and Gao, while bracing for a tumultuous year, remind us that 1966 was also a breakthrough year for music and creativity. Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tumultuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumultuous
Adjective
  • The faces of those women represented an unbroken chain of those who survived turbulent histories before me.
    Lara N. Dotson-Renta, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
  • This is something that is common around young stars that have turbulent and violent environments, but is uncommon for stars as old as ASASSN-24fw, estimated to be around 1 billion years old.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • For much of 2025, their doldrums felt much worse than the typical rough patch that parties endure after bad election defeats.
    Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Unfortunately, peel-and-stick tiles will not hold up well on rough walls and floors or uneven surfaces.
    Cori Sears, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Now polling suggests the public, and even Republican leaders in Congress, have stopped buying the White House’s claims that federal agents’ paramilitary-style raids only target violent criminals.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The takeover of the arts is less violent and a bit more insidious, but just as dangerous in its own right.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The press was ferocious and organised, with the number of box entries and chances created being higher than any league performance this season.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
  • What Lee did not anticipate was the iron resolve, the ferocious tenacity, of the Union defenders.
    Jamelle Bouie, Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Kam and O'Shea exceeded all expectations with a performance characterized by spectacular lifts and fierce musicality.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Then, in the middle of a fierce snowstorm, a skinny little girl and her dog show up at the resort.
    Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Saturday evening, police released a photo of Haile Cummings, 34, who is being sought in connection with the furious shoot-out inside Taste of the City Lounge on Franklin Ave.
    Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
  • That may not be enough to stop furious lawmakers trying to eject the prime minister from office over his failure of judgment.
    Jill Lawless, Fortune, 7 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Tumultuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tumultuous. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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