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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Meyers' enduring, sometimes tempestuous, musical partnership with fellow Southeast Side musician Doug Sahm made an indelible impact in both the Sir Douglas Quintet and the Texas Tornados.
—
Hector Saldana, San Antonio Express-News, 9 Mar. 2026
And when Varley returns to Portia after a stint with the manipulative and tempestuous Lady Penwood (Katie Leung), that’s not Bridgerton simply regressing to a status quo.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
In this administration, the first and most important is the volatile and tempestuous president.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
Hong Chau is a great choice for the adult Nelly, a quietly resentful sort who causes more friction in Cathy and Heathcliff's tempestuous situation.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tempestuous
Hector Saldana, San Antonio Express-News, 9 Mar. 2026
And when Varley returns to Portia after a stint with the manipulative and tempestuous Lady Penwood (Katie Leung), that’s not Bridgerton simply regressing to a status quo.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
In this administration, the first and most important is the volatile and tempestuous president.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
Hong Chau is a great choice for the adult Nelly, a quietly resentful sort who causes more friction in Cathy and Heathcliff's tempestuous situation.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tempestuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempestuous
Adjective
-
In 2023, a report from the Police Executive Research Forum, a national think tank on policing standards, called for police to put the brakes on car chases unless a violent crime has been committed and the suspect poses an imminent threat.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
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The enemy was large and violent.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In his first novel, Il salto con le aste (1989), Domenico Starnone presented two young boys determined to escape their turbulent Neapolitan backgrounds and assert themselves as free spirits and writers in the wider world.—
Tim Parks,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Soaring food and energy costs related to world conflicts, post-pandemic labor shortages, and consumers skittish about spending in this turbulent economy have become huge challenges for restaurateurs, Guez says.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
With climate change causing storms to be stronger and rougher than in the past, communities up and down the California coast are facing a similar challenge, as other aging wooden piers suffer damage, leaving cities facing large bills while the public clamors to keep the popular attractions open.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
8 Apr. 2026
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Using your fingers and the outside edges of your palms, press in any rough spots or remaining dry bits of dough.—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Blown out, extravagant, dripping with ferocious malaise and desperation, but precisely arranged for the maximum possible emotional effect.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Otters are part of the weasel family (Mustelidae), which includes some of nature’s most ferocious pint-sized predators, such as badgers, martens, and wolverines.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But Altman inspired fierce loyalty, too.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Christian villagers who stayed behind in southern Lebanon, ignoring Israel’s blanket evacuation warnings for the area, have increasingly hardened into enclaves surrounded by fierce clashes.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The furious finish, in a game played in the midst of wind gusts that made 40 degrees feel much colder as afternoon turned to evening, came after the Padres lost an early lead and then got it back again.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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Texas battled back to within one possession late, but Betts’ block sealed it for a team that has come too far and endured too much to be bothered by even the most furious of comeback attempts.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And Abrams was positively volcanic by mid-2006.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
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The pavement gets rough in spots and the landscape takes charge, showing off Joshua trees, wide-open spaces and the remnants of ancient volcanic activity.—
Susan Montoya Bryan,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tempestuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempestuous. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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