1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
in the tumult of the evacuation from the coast, we accidentally left on the television, which was of course tuned to the local newscast breathlessly reporting on the hurricane we were fleeing
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2
as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
the political tumult that swept the American colonies in the late 1700s
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3
as in roar
a violent shouting
went to the window to see what the great tumult was and discovered a crowd of demonstrators marching down the street
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tumult
The office has been riven by leadership tumult over the last year.
—
Arkansas Online, 3 Aug. 2025
That speculative element is teased right there in the title: One of God’s best and brightest has been knocked from heaven by war’s tumult and is caught in a thatch of barbed wire.
—Ben H. Winters, New York Times, 26 July 2025
While it would be overwhelmed by the tumult of the 1960s and the rise of The Beatles, her sound never went out of style with fans of her unapologetically romantic balladry.
—Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2025
Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images Legacy media is in a time of tumult.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tumult
Arkansas Online, 3 Aug. 2025
That speculative element is teased right there in the title: One of God’s best and brightest has been knocked from heaven by war’s tumult and is caught in a thatch of barbed wire.
—Ben H. Winters, New York Times, 26 July 2025
While it would be overwhelmed by the tumult of the 1960s and the rise of The Beatles, her sound never went out of style with fans of her unapologetically romantic balladry.
—Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2025
Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images Legacy media is in a time of tumult.
—Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tumult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumult
Noun
-
Thelma stopped reading at the sound of a commotion: loud thuds and shoes slapping on the floor.—
Joshua Sharpe
August 6,
Literary Hub,
6 Aug. 2025
-
In an episode full of all kinds of commotion, the most consequential plotline is Miranda’s son Brady getting a two-time hookup pregnant.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Constant procedural upheaval and backlogs are poison.—
Scott White,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
King took over in June as the district was confronting a $734 million budget crisis in the wake of leadership upheaval.—
Kate Perez,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
My focus was straight ahead on the asphalt rushing under us, of course, and the engine noise and roar of the wind precluded chit-chat anyway.—
Jim Clash,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Another American to have heard that roar is Jessica Pegula, who last year reached the US Open final before falling in two close sets to Aryna Sabalenka.—
Coy Wire,
CNN Money,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Prior to Vance's arrival in the rural vacation spot, the Secret Service reportedly brought disturbances to Charlbury, a village with just 3,000 residents.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
The hurricane center is also tracking two other disturbances, one in the north-central Atlantic and one just off Louisiana’s coast.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
And what many studies, going back to the civil unrest during the 1960s and '70s, showed that when law enforcement engages in arbitrary or poorly targeted violence, that often creates more violence.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
-
In the wake of the public unrest stoked by Shagan and his cronies, the country has descended into chaos.—
Jack King,
Vulture,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
My focus was straight ahead on the asphalt rushing under us, of course, and the engine noise and roar of the wind precluded chit-chat anyway.—
Jim Clash,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Armed with new veterans and buoyed with talented youth, the Royals have the ammunition to make some noise.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Under Cornell, Target also successfully navigated the turmoil of the pandemic, with revenue rising from $78 billion in 2019 and peaking at $109.1 billion in 2022 before slipping ever since.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
20 Aug. 2025
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Despite the tariff turmoil, bans on delivery of aircraft were lifted by the US administration in June of this year with a 90 day suspension.—
Jerrold Lundquist,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Love Is Blind premiered in February 2020 on Netflix, and instantly caused a stir.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Diggs caused a stir during the spring when he was videotaped on a boat handing out a pink substance in baggies.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tumult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tumult. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.
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