1
as in storm
a disturbance of the atmosphere accompanied by wind and often by precipitation (as rain or snow)
the sudden summertime tempest drove us off the golf course and into the clubhouse
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
the town council handled the tempest over cuts to the school budget as well as could be expected
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tempest
But flooding — and not just from those tropical tempests — is a multibillion-dollar threat that is largely untracked by government agencies and often kept secret from the public.
—
Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2025
This week, Kenvue, the consumer health spin-off from Johnson & Johnson, found itself at the epicenter of a market tempest this week.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
The tempest over the logo began last week, when the company announced plans for a simplified design featuring only the company’s name.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
But instead of clouds and rain, these electromagnetic tempests are made of plasma, charged particles whipped into motion by Earth's magnetic field.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tempest
Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2025
This week, Kenvue, the consumer health spin-off from Johnson & Johnson, found itself at the epicenter of a market tempest this week.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
The tempest over the logo began last week, when the company announced plans for a simplified design featuring only the company’s name.
—Dee-Ann Durbin, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
But instead of clouds and rain, these electromagnetic tempests are made of plasma, charged particles whipped into motion by Earth's magnetic field.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tempest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempest
Noun
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There is potential for a coastal storm Thursday and or Friday, but confidence is low.—
Andrew Kozak,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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There’s roughly two and a half months left of the winter season, which means that there are plenty of chilly evenings, snow storms, and freeze warnings to look forward to.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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These are among the many questions posed by Simon Morrison’s sprawling biography of place, which seeks to understand a nation through the life of its largest city, tracing Moscow’s evolution via dozens of historical upheavals, from war, famine, drought, and much, much more.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
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It’s been a big year of upheaval for Allen, who split from ex David Harbour in February, per People.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Some other reports put the death toll from unrest much higher, with TIME citing a doctor in Tehran as saying at least 217 people had been killed, for instance.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
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In a statement broadcast by state TV, a security force known for quelling unrest accused terrorists of targeting military and law enforcement bases over the past two nights.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The young republic’s survival hinged on distancing itself from a Europe convulsed by revolution and war.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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One early muse-like figure is Martin Luther, who in 1524 sparked a revolution by challenging the church’s influence on commerce.—
Valerie L. Myers,
The Conversation,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
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Thirty-two years ago, freeways fell, buildings flattened and local communities were reshaped forever by the earthquake.—
Jamie Yuccas,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tempest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempest. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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