1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
there was a welter of pushing and shoving as people rushed to grab the best seats for the outdoor concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in jumble
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things
a welter of junk in the closet, most of which needed to be thrown out
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in havoc
a state in which everything is out of order
the claim that a troop withdrawal would plunge the country into a welter of anarchy and endless civil war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of welter
John Hopewell, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
Looming over the welter of domestic problems is typhoon Trump.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
While Kim guided the Theresa through a welter of charterboats trolling the shoreline for blues and stripers, the brothers sat on the flying bridge, joking and trading stories and scanning the flat empty sea for the black dorsal fin of basking swordfish.
—Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
But that story of rapid growth and incipient liberalization concealed a much more complicated picture: China’s economy consisted of a welter of different actors pursuing different, sometimes contradictory interests.
—Yeling Tan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2021
See All Example Sentences for welter
Noun
The welter of Globo international partnerships and deals confirmed on stage on Sunday at Cannes Carlton Hotel by Angela Colla, Globo Head of International Business and Co-productions, did much to suggest that for Globo the future is beginning again.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
Looming over the welter of domestic problems is typhoon Trump.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
While Kim guided the Theresa through a welter of charterboats trolling the shoreline for blues and stripers, the brothers sat on the flying bridge, joking and trading stories and scanning the flat empty sea for the black dorsal fin of basking swordfish.
—Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
But that story of rapid growth and incipient liberalization concealed a much more complicated picture: China’s economy consisted of a welter of different actors pursuing different, sometimes contradictory interests.
—Yeling Tan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2021
See All Example Sentences for welter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for welter
Noun
-
Despite the initial commotion, Julie’s case went cold.—
Annalise Peterson,
NBC news,
21 Mar. 2026
-
During the commotion, Gamel Kheir, the mosque’s secretary, pleaded for calm.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
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Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Working low to high, causing havoc on the forecheck, getting pucks back.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Wild extremes of temperature, a heat dome, a potent bomb cyclone blizzard, epic rainfalls and violent tornadoes have wreaked weather havoc across the nation.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Recent polls show Villaraigosa, 73, wallowing at the bottom of the field, though none of the major Democratic candidates have an overwhelming edge.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
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The rest of my family soon followed him, leaving me to wallow alone.—
McKay Coppins,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Garcia said detectives have learned that Serrano was not connected to the initial domestic disturbance call that brought officers to the neighborhood.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
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Several fungal species are most often carried by dust and other soil disturbances, posing health risks when inhaled.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The 2024 World silver medalist brought her characteristic grace and glamour — and a new, high-scoring opening jump — to her Sophia Loren medley short program.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
27 Mar. 2026
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Videos posted on social media showed an attack drone plowing into a building and setting off a fire in Lviv's city center -- a UNESCO World Heritage site with a medley of cobblestone streets and historic buildings.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The hackers never demanded a ransom, suggesting they were motivated by destruction and chaos, not profit.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
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Cool weather and wind gusts settled over lines resembling a maze both inside and outside the airport, creating confusion and chaos.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Royals shuffled their outfield this offseason.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The living room has been moved to the second floor in the plans and other rooms were shuffled around, though the project’s size and general design remain roughly the same.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Welter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/welter. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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