tumultuous

adjective

tu·​mul·​tu·​ous tu̇-ˈməl-chə-wəs 

tyu̇-,

tə-,

-chəs;

-ˈməlch-wəs

1

: marked by tumult : loud, excited, and emotional

tumultuous applause

2

: tending or disposed to cause or incite a tumult

the laws … were violated by a tumultuous faction

—Edward Gibbon

3

: marked by violent or overwhelming turbulence or upheaval

tumultuous passions

tumultuously adverb

tumultuousness noun

Synonyms

• cataclysmal
• cataclysmic
• convulsive
• stormy
• tempestuous
• turbulent

Examples of tumultuous in a Sentence

For someone with such a tumultuous inner world, the muscular choice-is-all school of moral philosophy could not be satisfactory. —Martha C. Nussbaum, New Republic, 31 Dec. 2001

The tumultuous sensual undercurrent of the Orient had, like water in the desert, gone underground and though perhaps it bubbled up behind courtyard walls, in public places it kept out of sight. —Leila Hadley, Give Me the World, (1958) 1999

The teams walked onto the field to tumultuous applause. —J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, 1999

We were not accustomed to loran, and to pick up a buoy, as I now did with my binoculars, after thirty days of tumultuous seas, at precisely the time and angle that our charted position led us to anticipate, struck me as nothing short of miraculous. —Louis Auchincloss, "Atlantic War," in Authors at Sea, Robert Shenk, ed.,  1997

The returning astronauts were given a tumultuous welcome.

The room filled with tumultuous applause.

Recent Examples on the Web

UnitedHealth Group targeted in largest-ever health industry data breach With UnitedHealth Group looking toward the future, many are still grappling with a tumultuous year for the company. —Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 14 May 2025

After a tumultuous season, Dallas Mavericks fans got something to smile about on Monday when the franchise won the NBA Draft Lottery for the first time in franchise history. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2025

After a tumultuous season filled with questionable decisions and fan discontent, the Dallas Mavericks defied the odds and won the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery. —Doyle Rader, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025

For more on the tumultuous life of Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, available Friday. —Janine Rubenstein, People.com, 13 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

see tumult

First Known Use

circa 1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tumultuous

adjective

tu·​mul·​tu·​ous t(y)u̇-ˈməlch-(ə-)wəs 

-ˈməl-chəs

: being or suggesting a tumult

a tumultuous welcome for the astronauts

tumultuously adverb