1
as in storms
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 upheavals
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 tempests
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
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
The force of the collision pushed up mountains three miles high; millions of years of tempests wore them down.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2024
Hwang seems to be suggesting that a line can indeed be drawn from the cultural tempests – too easily dismissed as matters of political correctness – to the real-world tragedies and obscenities that send innocent men to jail and early graves.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2024
Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 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
The force of the collision pushed up mountains three miles high; millions of years of tempests wore them down.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2024
Hwang seems to be suggesting that a line can indeed be drawn from the cultural tempests – too easily dismissed as matters of political correctness – to the real-world tragedies and obscenities that send innocent men to jail and early graves.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempests
Noun
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Though both storms are similar — with a major storm system lingering over the region for over a day and whipping the region with merciless hurricane-level winds, driving inch after inch of wet snow — what made the 1978 storm so devastating was the apparent suddenness of its arrival.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
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McPhail said Home Depot's business was relatively stable throughout the year, including in the fourth quarter, when adjusting for storms.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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So Old So Young by Grant Ginder Over twenty years and five parties, six college friends reunite again and again, believing their bond will outlast the upheavals of adulthood.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
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Causing one of the biggest upheavals in Hollywood history, the IT meltdown irreparably damaged 70% of Sony’s servers, and exposed private communications from executives and talent as well as personal information.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
20 Feb. 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,
27 Feb. 2026
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There's no obvious evidence that earthquakes triggered the Colombian explosion, Manga said.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Van der Poel took the group with him until there were 16km remaining before attacking over the Muur van Geraardsbergen, blowing up the group with what felt like about eight revolutions of his pedals.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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He is disillusioned by the inability of people -- most of whom have been through revolutions and discrimination themselves -- to get along.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tempests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempests. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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