1
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
order was restored to the court after the judge put a stop to the defendant's tempestuous outburst
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in turbulent
marked by sudden or violent disturbance
in terms of social change, the 1960s are generally considered the most tempestuous decade in recent American history
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3
as in rough
marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements
we spent a tempestuous night stranded on the summit of the mountain
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4
as in bleak
marked by wet and windy conditions
stay indoors this weekend as the weather promises to be tempestuous
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tempestuous
An affirmative vision of what the world should be is the inspiration for many of those who, in these tempestuous early months of Trump 2.0, have taken meaningful risks—acts of American dissent.
—
Julia Angwin, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2025
The move followed a tempestuous meeting between the president and Maine Governor Janet Mills, a Democrat, on February 21.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
The new coach’s tempestuous history does create even more emphasis on the next major hire Maryland must make, a replacement for athletic director Damon Evans.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2025
By turns giddy, anxious, and despairing, these poems have endeared him to generations of ordinary readers who find in the tempestuous and ultimately brokenhearted poet a strikingly modern and profoundly accessible figure.
—Daniel Mendelsohn, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tempestuous
Julia Angwin, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2025
The move followed a tempestuous meeting between the president and Maine Governor Janet Mills, a Democrat, on February 21.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
The new coach’s tempestuous history does create even more emphasis on the next major hire Maryland must make, a replacement for athletic director Damon Evans.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2025
By turns giddy, anxious, and despairing, these poems have endeared him to generations of ordinary readers who find in the tempestuous and ultimately brokenhearted poet a strikingly modern and profoundly accessible figure.
—Daniel Mendelsohn, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tempestuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempestuous
Adjective
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Europeans, Australians and Americans organized violent, racially motivated riots and lawmakers began enacting anti-Chinese immigration legislation, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
16 May 2025
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Combs apologized for his violent behavior soon after the video's release.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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The stakes are high, as the visits take place amid turbulent geopolitical tensions.—
Natasha Turak,
CNBC,
9 May 2025
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The film spans two decades of a country in profound transformation with a new perspective into contemporary China and individual experience amid turbulent change.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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But it must be remembered that even the best bullpen has at least one rough stretch in a season.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 May 2025
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Its new pricing could be an effort to attract American car buyers after rough Q1.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
Adjective
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The crisis is in plain view and the wind is ferocious.—
Mark A. Cohen,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
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His Hozier cover was at turns strategic and nuanced, then unleashed and ferocious.—
Charlie Mason,
TVLine,
5 May 2025
Adjective
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The old model of fierce independence is a luxury many can't afford during this transition.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
8 May 2025
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Tehran claims its program is peaceful but has threatened fierce retaliation and a possible withdrawal from the nonproliferation treaty if its nuclear sites are attacked.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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Eyewitnesses described furious gales and hurricane-like winds that left an avalanche of debris near the pier.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
15 May 2025
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But even with a better offensive night for Jerome, he was still beaten off the dribble too many times and couldn’t stay on the court for that last, furious push.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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Hundreds of times more intense and brighter than those seen on Earth, they're caused both by high-energy particles from the sun but also from Jupiter's moon, Io — the most volcanic body in the solar system.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
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Other sites may hold clues about volcanic activity on the Moon or the solar system’s early history.—
Zhenbo Wang,
The Conversation,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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Superhuman built their email tool in public, discussing challenges openly, which shaped their product and created a rabid fan base in the process.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
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That’s not quite enough to fill, say, Coors Field, but certainly enough to warrant applause for this Canadian DJ’s rabid fan base.—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tempestuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempestuous. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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