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
Cognisant of the wary and weary eyes of investors — who have followed more than a year of tumult in French politics amid stark disagreements about the 2026 budget — French President Emmanuel Macron quickly elected a new prime minister, France's fifth in less than two years.
—
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
Sedona’s superstars are its vivid sandstone, limestone, shale and basalt formations, sculpted by millions of years of geologic tumult.
—New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Paramount has faced great tumult in recent years, and Dini’s note reflected that.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
Regardless of any tumult in the world, and in Minnesota specifically, the state fair has remained a fortress of nostalgia and folksy civic cheer.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tumult
Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2025
Sedona’s superstars are its vivid sandstone, limestone, shale and basalt formations, sculpted by millions of years of geologic tumult.
—New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Paramount has faced great tumult in recent years, and Dini’s note reflected that.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 9 Sep. 2025
Regardless of any tumult in the world, and in Minnesota specifically, the state fair has remained a fortress of nostalgia and folksy civic cheer.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tumult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumult
Noun
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There’s a huge commotion around us.—
Eli Sharabi,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The K-pop contingent caused a commotion, with Blackpink’s Lisa snapping pics with Stray Kids’ Felix.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Dimon has led the bank since 2005, guiding it through periods of upheaval to notch record profits in 7 of the last 10 years.—
Hugh Son,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The industry hasn’t seen this much upheaval since 1997, the last comparable seminal moment in fashion.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
From the roar of the crowd to the quiet focus of a camera shutter, former Philadelphia Eagles HOFer Malcolm Jenkins has gracefully transitioned from NFL star to passionate photographer.—
John Armwood III,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
-
His voice was still raw from calling plays over the roar of Lincoln Financial Field.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Tuesday afternoon, the hurricane center also flagged another disturbance to watch.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
6 Oct. 2025
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Key Takeaways Time changes can increase stroke risk and cause mood changes and sleep disturbances.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Local grievances—such as power outages in Madagascar or rising food prices in Kenya—can quickly escalate into nationwide unrest, amplified by viral hashtags, memes and shared digital culture.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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In other footage of the unrest, two men were seen engaging in a fistfight outside the ICE facility before they were detained.—
Greg Norman , Bill Melugin,
FOXNews.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The final finished 14-14, but my abiding memory is the intoxicating swirl of noise and colour created by almost 93,000 fans, plus the sense of anticipation that accompanied the pre-match walk up Olympic Way.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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After hearing noises, the couple barrelled up into the living room, naked, with Rhys brandishing a poker from the fireplace.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Regional lenders have been under pressure after last year's banking turmoil, prompting mergers aimed at strengthening balance sheets and expanding into faster-growing markets.—
Alexander Coolidge,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Oct. 2025
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Amid the turmoil the Aces seek their third title after winning in 2022 and ‘23.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Known for their loud personalities, huskies are no stranger to using their voices, but a video of a senior, deaf husky's silent howl is proving that even without sound, the breed still speaks volumes.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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With his singular, deafening howl, Lindberg helped put At the Gates at the forefront of Gothenburg, Sweden’s melodic death metal revolution.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tumult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tumult. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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