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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tumult
That terrible war dims in the national memory, but to be Gen X is to be born into the cultural tumult of the Vietnam War, a deeply unpopular and brutal conflict fought by tens of thousands of young men forced into service.
—
John Devore, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2026
The lyrics are often cryptic and clipped, but bear evidence of turbulence and tumult.
—Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 18 Mar. 2026
Arizona State, desperate for some measure of stability amid the tumult engulfing football, responded by awarding him a two-year extension.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 12 Mar. 2026
The conflict, which is well into its second week, has widened throughout the Middle East, sent oil prices skyrocketing, and caused tumult in the financial markets.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tumult
John Devore, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2026
The lyrics are often cryptic and clipped, but bear evidence of turbulence and tumult.
—Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 18 Mar. 2026
Arizona State, desperate for some measure of stability amid the tumult engulfing football, responded by awarding him a two-year extension.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 12 Mar. 2026
The conflict, which is well into its second week, has widened throughout the Middle East, sent oil prices skyrocketing, and caused tumult in the financial markets.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tumult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumult
Noun
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Despite the initial commotion, Julie’s case went cold.—
Annalise Peterson,
NBC news,
21 Mar. 2026
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During the commotion, Gamel Kheir, the mosque’s secretary, pleaded for calm.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In the wake of Republican defeats in a string of special elections − including a Democratic victory in the Florida state house race to represent the president's home district − the record-setting protests were one more omen of upheaval ahead in November's midterm elections.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
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That gave Schiaparelli’s clothing a sense of relevance in pre-World War II Europe’s cultural upheaval and aesthetically traditionalist Paris — a methodology that Roseberry has picked up.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Two of the biggest roars of the game came at halftime, incidentally.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
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Inside Son Doong, a subterranean river continues to carve the cave, producing a constant roar that echoes through its chambers.—
Brit McCandless Farmer,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Garcia said detectives have learned that Serrano was not connected to the initial domestic disturbance call that brought officers to the neighborhood.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
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Several fungal species are most often carried by dust and other soil disturbances, posing health risks when inhaled.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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When a white suburban jury acquitted the LAPD officers who beat Black motorist Rodney King, protesters spilled into the Slot and set the nearby landmark palm trees on fire — a precursor for the unrest to come.—
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2026
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So when, in December 2025, thousands of ICE agents descended upon the Twin Cities, initiating two months of unrest and violence, restaurants were not at the forefront of the headlines, but acutely absorbing its impact.—
David Farley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Tens of thousands of people are flocking to Bayfront Park for the Ultra Music Festival, an annual electronic music event that has once again brought both excitement and concerns over noise and safety to downtown Miami.—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Prior work has explored ultrasound sensing mainly on ground robots, but applying it to aerial robots has been difficult due to propeller noise and weak signals.—
Nitin Sanket,
The Conversation,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Chinese companies aren’t retreating from the Arabian Gulf despite turmoil in the region, according to one of the world’s top management consultants.—
Bloomberg,
Bloomberg,
26 Mar. 2026
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Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest actress Hüller, currently on screens opposite Ryan Gosling in box office hit Project Hail Mary, plays a mysterious soldier who appears in a secluded Protestant village amidst the turmoil of the Thirty Years’ War.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In response to howls of protest, the commission has agreed to a 180-day moratorium on severing the ties with PBS.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
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Trump’s media-bashing, often a dull roar in the background, is an unusually loud howl right now.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tumult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tumult. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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