1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
the surprise verdict of the jury created a wild williwaw as reporters rushed to file their stories
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gust
a sudden brief rush of wind
a williwaw rose up seemingly out of nowhere and wreaked havoc with our campsite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of williwaw
The williwaw, a gale-force wind that came rolling down the mountain gathering speed, was depicted as a whorled cloud.
—
Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2022
The dominant use of williwaw throughout the 19th century was in relation to storms around Cape Horn, including the Straits of Magellan.
—David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022
The williwaw gusts swirled thick fog among transport ships off Attu Island, and the waiting infantrymen nervously mulled the name of their landing site: Massacre Bay.
—Alex Horton, Washington Post, 24 May 2018
Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2022
The dominant use of williwaw throughout the 19th century was in relation to storms around Cape Horn, including the Straits of Magellan.
—David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022
The williwaw gusts swirled thick fog among transport ships off Attu Island, and the waiting infantrymen nervously mulled the name of their landing site: Massacre Bay.
—Alex Horton, Washington Post, 24 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for williwaw
Noun
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As the gathering went on, González Gutiérrez heard, on top of the helicopter, loud voices and a general commotion outside.—
Geraldo Cadava,
New Yorker,
23 July 2025
-
All the commotion and brutality complicate an otherwise mundane task: visiting Mom for the weekend.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
17 July 2025
Noun
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Residents should be prepared for wind gusts of up to 55 mph.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 July 2025
-
The storms may bring penny-sized hail (0.75 inches) and wind gusts of up to 40 mph.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
29 July 2025
Noun
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Police standoff after murders Lenexa police responded around 8:30 p.m. to the Donovan family home in the 7900 block of Hallet Street for a reported armed disturbance.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
23 July 2025
-
On July 10, the Los Angeles Police Department received two separate 911 calls reporting a disturbance at the residence of American Idol music supervisor Robin Kaye and her musician husband, Thomas Deluca.—
Danielle Bacher,
People.com,
21 July 2025
Noun
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For a country like Italy, which prioritizes value for money, this is a devastating blow.—
Elisabetta Tosi,
Forbes.com,
2 Aug. 2025
-
People threw punches, kicked and jeered as a man on the ground tried to fend off the blows and a woman tumbled to the concrete, bloody and disoriented.—
Scott Wartman,
The Enquirer,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Among the topics discussed: Nikola Jokic caused a stir in NBA circles by … doing nothing?!—
Matt Schubert,
Denver Post,
16 July 2025
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The allegations created quite a stir—and resulted in litigation.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
Hess and Rhoads say the transition from talking about beer to running a brewery has been a breeze.—
Colin Wrenn,
Denver Post,
25 July 2025
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Wake up to river views and salty breezes at the Yorktown Beach Hotel.—
Erin Gifford,
Southern Living,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
Chicken in a hurry is a quick and easy chicken dinner recipe that requires very little prep work and calls for only pantry staple ingredients, including peanut butter, hot pepper jelly, and soy sauce.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
26 July 2025
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Robinson, the Dolphins’ 2024 first-round pick, blossomed as a pass rushing force in the second half of his rookie season, contributing six sacks and 42 quarterback hurries in 2024.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
Winners that scud through the court from all directions.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
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Their optimism regarding the possible Iranian retaliation would be based on the history of Israeli resilience in the face of Iraq's scud attacks in 1991, and Hamas' and Hezbollah's rocket strikes.—
Dmitry Adamsky,
Foreign Affairs,
20 Feb. 2011
Cite this Entry
“Williwaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/williwaw. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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