tempestuous

1 of 2

adjective

tem·​pes·​tu·​ous tem-ˈpes-chə-wəs 

-ˈpesh-

: of, relating to, or resembling a tempest : turbulent, stormy

tempestuous weather

a tempestuous relationship

tempestuously adverb

tempestuousness noun

tempestuousness

2 of 2

noun

tem·​pes·​tu·​ous·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being tempestuous : storminess, wildness

the tempestuousness of the sea

a time of violence and tempestuousness

Did you know?

A deluge of words in English do double duty in describing both the weather and the various emotions, relationships, and travails of humankind. You might be glad to know (or be) someone with a sunny disposition, for example, or find yourself bored to tears by a windy speech. Since its 15th century English debut, tempestuous has also blown in two directions, used in the context of literal storms (as in “tempestuous seas”) and for personalities, arguments, etc., that are figuratively “stormy,” being characterized by strong emotions. Like its older sibling in English, the noun tempest (“a violent storm,” “uproar”), tempestuous hails via Anglo-French from the Latin word tempestās, which has multiple meanings including “stretch of time,” “season,” and “stormy weather.”

Synonyms of tempestuous

Adjective

• violent
• turbulent
• ferocious
• fierce
• furious
• rough
• volcanic

Examples of tempestuous in a Sentence

Adjective

order was restored to the court after the judge put a stop to the defendant's tempestuous outburst

in terms of social change, the 1960s are generally considered the most tempestuous decade in recent American history

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

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

But portraying Odysseus, he was tasked with smashing swords, scaling mountains and sailing tempestuous waters, all while spiraling about the state of humanity. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 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

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English tempestuous, Latinization of tempestous, borrowed from Anglo-French, re-formation of Late Latin tempestuōsus, from tempestu-, probably extracted from Latin tempestūt-, tempestūs, archaic variant of tempestāt-, tempestās "stretch of time, season, weather, tempest entry 1" + -ōsus -ous

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tempestuous

• incestuous

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

tempestuous

adjective

tem·​pes·​tu·​ous tem-ˈpes-chə-wəs 

-ˈpesh-

: violent sense 1, stormy

a tempestuous sea

a tempestuous relationship

tempestuously adverb

tempestuousness noun