tumbleweed
noun
tum·ble·weed
ˈtəm-bəl-ˌwēd 
: a plant (such as Russian thistle or any of several amaranths) that breaks away from its roots in the autumn and is driven about by the wind as a light rolling mass
Examples of tumbleweed in a Sentence
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Snow rollers are nature's own snowballs that grow ever larger as wind, gravity and very specific weather conditions cause these winter equivalents to tumbleweeds to start rolling around.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
In the wind its movements could look somewhat animated, so that the tumbleweed appeared to be a breathing body.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
The dust that collects in your home can turn into tumbleweed-like dust bunnies, wreaking havoc on allergies and indoor air quality.
—Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 15 Jan. 2026
In the tumbleweed years — 2017 to 2022 — a broken lift there became an emblem of the club’s decline and decay.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
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Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
In the wind its movements could look somewhat animated, so that the tumbleweed appeared to be a breathing body.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
The dust that collects in your home can turn into tumbleweed-like dust bunnies, wreaking havoc on allergies and indoor air quality.
—Blythe Copeland, Martha Stewart, 15 Jan. 2026
In the tumbleweed years — 2017 to 2022 — a broken lift there became an emblem of the club’s decline and decay.
—Michael Walker, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tumbleweed
Cite this Entry
“Tumbleweed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tumbleweed. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tumbleweed
noun
tum·ble·weed
ˈtəm-bəl-ˌwēd
: a plant that breaks away from its roots in autumn and is blown about by the wind
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