tempestuous
adjective
tem·pes·tu·ous
tem-ˈpes-chə-wəs 
-ˈpesh-
tempestuously
adverb
tempestuousness
noun
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Time is sometimes marked in seasons, and seasons are associated with the weather. This explains how tempestās—a Latin word for "time," "season," and "weather"—gave rise to tempestuous, an English adjective for things turbulent and stormy.
Examples of tempestuous in a Sentence
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
Because the new tariff rates go into effect in roughly three weeks, Trump is setting up a period of possibly tempestuous talks among the U.S. and its trade partners to reach new frameworks.
—
arkansasonline.com, 8 July 2025
Because the new tariff rates go into effect in roughly three weeks, Trump is setting up a period of possibly tempestuous talks between the U.S. and its trade partners to reach new frameworks.
—Dan Gooding
gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
The mayor, Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal), tries to be patient with this officer of the law, but the two men have a tempestuous history.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2025
It’s been a tempestuous ride for Elon Musk’s mammoth Starship, after three flight launch attempts devolved in fiery glory and air-traffic stopping debris this year to date.
—Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tempestuous
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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arkansasonline.com, 8 July 2025
Because the new tariff rates go into effect in roughly three weeks, Trump is setting up a period of possibly tempestuous talks between the U.S. and its trade partners to reach new frameworks.
—Dan Gooding
gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
The mayor, Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal), tries to be patient with this officer of the law, but the two men have a tempestuous history.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2025
It’s been a tempestuous ride for Elon Musk’s mammoth Starship, after three flight launch attempts devolved in fiery glory and air-traffic stopping debris this year to date.
—Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tempestuous
Cite this Entry
“Tempestuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tempestuous. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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