commotion

noun

kə-ˈmō-shən How to pronounce commotion (audio)
Definition of commotionnext
as in disturbance
a state of noisy, confused activity the commotion created when the nation's top rock band arrived in town

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of commotion Note how there is no dry, flammable kindling of commotion in us whenever thought is feeling the peace of being fixed on what God is and does. — Mark Swinney, Christian Science Monitor, 21 July 2026 The fact that the Studebaker was full of large toy Muppets added to the commotion. — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026 Delhi police said that Wangchuk was taken to the hospital after his health worsened during the hunger strike and that a brief commotion occurred when some protesters tried to block the move. — Aijaz Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026 Delhi Police said Wangchuk was taken to hospital after his health worsened during the hunger strike, and that a brief commotion occurred when some protesters tried to block the move. — ABC News, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for commotion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commotion
  1. disturbance
  2. stir
  3. fuss
  4. turmoil
  5. hurry
  6. noise
  7. clatter
  8. storm
Noun
  • Officers say the changes are aimed at addressing a recent rise in overnight disturbances while reassuring visitors and businesses that Old Sacramento remains a safe destination.
    — Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • They are identified as brain activity accompanied with multisensory disturbances and sometimes don’t even cause the signature intense pain.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 30 July 2026
Definition of disturbance
Noun
  • Alessandro Michele‘s reinventions of the iconic Valentino Rockstud shoe caused quite the stir when introduced in his pre-fall 2026 collection — but another one of Michele’s heel styles has been quietly heating up alongside it.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 31 July 2026
  • North West's tour caused a stir online, with some individuals voicing concern about Kardashian and Ye's oldest daughter touring at 13.
    — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 July 2026
Definition of stir
Noun
  • The idea is to share several different plates, listen to the music — an izakaya’s ambiance is much different than that of an upscale omakase restaurant — and hang out with your friends without a lot of fuss.
    — Connie Ogle July 30, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
  • The figure cited by FT also isn’t far off from what Ferrari expected the Luce to sell before the fuss caused by its debut.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 30 July 2026
Definition of fuss
Noun
  • With even the trial date itself in dispute and Gulf sovereign funds backing much of the equity amid regional turmoil, the Ellisons may have won the bidding war only to inherit a much costlier fight.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The waltz seemed to leave his heart in turmoil without lifting his spirits.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of turmoil
Noun
  • Two years into her reign, in 2024, an insider revealed that Camilla wasn’t in any hurry to step away.
    — Starr Bowenbank, InStyle, 18 July 2026
  • Prairiewolf has always seemed bent on finding new territory while being in no particular hurry to get there.
    — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 17 July 2026
Definition of hurry
Noun
  • Later, the Taurus Moon enters your 3rd House of Communication, helping simple words calm the noise around you today.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2026
  • As the noises grew louder, Anyanwu tried calling a neighborhood-watch group, then some friends, but the calls didn’t connect.
    — Alexis Okeowo, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of noise
Noun
  • All night long there was the ringing clatter of picks and shovels; the Germans were digging trenches in the frozen ground.
    — Vasily Grossman, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • No clatter of boots and ankles.
    — Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Definition of clatter
Noun
  • In Hackensack, New Jersey, a blown transformer during Tuesday's storm sparked a fire that destroyed multiple vehicles and left more than 1,000 customers without power.
    — Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 29 July 2026
  • The chance of rain reaching the Kansas City metro from the morning storms is low, but there’s another chance of pop-up storms with heavy downpours possible Wednesday afternoon and evening, forecasters said.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 July 2026
Definition of storm

Browse Nearby Words

commonwealths
commotion
commotions
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Commotion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commotion. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on commotion

Nglish: Translation of commotion for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of colloquial

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All