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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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
Bedtime finds us with A Young People’s History of the United States or Pam Muñoz Ryan’s The Dreamer, tracing young Pablo Neruda through rainforests and tempestuous seas.
—
Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
From the 9/11 terrorist attacks to the 2016 election and the tempestuous Trump administrations, Comey has been at the center of some of the biggest dramas in Washington.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
But Eisner famously was forced out of the company in a shareholder rebellion that cleared the way for Iger’s leadership following a colorful and tempestuous final few years at the top that were chronicled in books like DisneyWar and The Keys to the Kingdom: How Michael Eisner Lost His Grip.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
Sellers was both celebrated and controversial, known for his brilliant improvisation and chameleonic character work, as well as his tempestuous personal life.
—Josh Max, Forbes.com, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tempestuous
Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
From the 9/11 terrorist attacks to the 2016 election and the tempestuous Trump administrations, Comey has been at the center of some of the biggest dramas in Washington.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
But Eisner famously was forced out of the company in a shareholder rebellion that cleared the way for Iger’s leadership following a colorful and tempestuous final few years at the top that were chronicled in books like DisneyWar and The Keys to the Kingdom: How Michael Eisner Lost His Grip.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2025
Sellers was both celebrated and controversial, known for his brilliant improvisation and chameleonic character work, as well as his tempestuous personal life.
—Josh Max, Forbes.com, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tempestuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempestuous
Adjective
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Rising number of violent incidents, 911 calls But reducing the inmate population did not solve the problem with drugs and violence.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
5 Nov. 2025
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After Maggie and Paul were shot to death on June 7, 2021, Alex was found guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, earning two consecutive life sentences without possibility of parole.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The Dallas Mavericks fired general manager Nico Harrison on Tuesday, marking the end of a turbulent tenure defined by bold moves, fan unrest, and a season that spiraled after the controversial Luka Dončić trade.—
Andy Scholes,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
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Prewitt, who has led IFTA and the AFM through some of the most turbulent years in the history of independent film — through the rise of streaming and the collapse of the theatrical market, the COVID shutdowns and the dual strikes — will be stepping down after this year’s AFM.—
Kevin Cassidy,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Other government notices mentioned the size and rough location of the construction.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Yams tend to be white fleshed with a rough, brown exterior.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Just a big ferocious ball of meat, claws, and teeth.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
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Though the storm did not make a direct hit on Haiti, its ferocious rains caused rivers to flood and jump their banks.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In intra-party diplo-speak, that was about as fierce a burn as can come from the party’s central committee.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
10 Nov. 2025
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The city’s fierce weather pattern is fueled by the same Arctic air mass expected to sweep through the eastern two-thirds of the US this week.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Cue more furious backlash from the Democratic base.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
11 Nov. 2025
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Sources said Turness, the BBC News chief, was blocked by the board from making a statement, a turn of events that is said to have left her furious.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In 2022, debris from an underwater volcanic eruption severed the island's only subsea communication cable, cutting the island off from the rest of the world.—
Magdalena Petrova,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
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Other materials such as tephra, or hot glassy volcanic fragments, as well as volcanic ash, pumice, scoria and reticulite can fall on the ground within 1 to 3 miles of the eruptive vents.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tempestuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempestuous. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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