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tempestuous

adjective

tem-ˈpes-chə-wəs How to pronounce tempestuous (audio)
Definition of tempestuousnext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tempestuous But portraying Odysseus, he was tasked with smashing swords, scaling mountains and sailing tempestuous waters, all while spiraling about the state of humanity. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 14 July 2026 In the Faroe Islands, Nature Rewards Patience The remote archipelago is welcoming more visitors every year—but a tempestuous climate and steadfast way of life encourage travelers to bend. — Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 June 2026 The Allied Expeditionary Force could not get troops onto Continental Europe if Mother Nature was feeling tempestuous. — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026 Fraser plays the legendary general (and future president) as a tempestuous mountain of a man, a far cry from the modest and even-keeled Eisenhower of record. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tempestuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempestuous
  1. violent
  2. turbulent
  3. rough
  4. ferocious
  5. fierce
  6. furious
  7. volcanic
Adjective
  • Mayweather’s charges stemmed from a violent encounter between her and Lapattra Jacobs, the mother of one of YoungBoy Never Broke Again’s children.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The recent deaths have highlighted high rates of femicide and violent crime in the country and sparked an outcry over the safety of women.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of violent
Adjective
  • The oversight hearing underscored Patel’s turbulent tenure, from shouting matches with lawmakers and blended leisure travel to allegations of excessive drinking that spurred calls for his removal and a massive defamation suit.
    — Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The two lawsuits come after a turbulent week for Hoskins, a Republican who became a key player in a dizzying series of legal battles and court decisions over the state’s congressional map.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of turbulent
Adjective
  • In 2024, Swift joined the Bears as a free agent whose production didn’t match the contract in a rough year overall for the offense.
    — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • After a rough preseason that included missing a block that got Dart crushed and fumbling, Tracy could next lose his spot on the gameday active roster — if not his job entirely — with Najee Harris waiting to step in.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of rough
Adjective
  • The relationship between Xi and Zhang went back decades, extending not just to their childhoods but all the way back to their fathers, who were comrades in arms in China’s ferocious civil war.
    — Jonathan A. Czin, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The ferocious drummer Martin Chambers, with his knifey sideburns, completed the quartet.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of ferocious
Adjective
  • Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway owns BNSF, and the railroad is a fierce critic of Vena’s takeover bid for Norfolk Southern.
    — John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Aaron Donald, one of the fiercest pass rushers in NFL history, is coming out of retirement to rejoin the Rams in hopes of winning another Super Bowl title.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of fierce
Adjective
  • The Lindsay Clancy trial has captivated the nation, spurring furious online debate on the state of maternal healthcare and whether she should be held criminally responsible for killing her three children.
    — Yasmin Vossoughian, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Simply put, the SEC is furious that LSU has challenged the conference’s attempts to enforce its eligibility rules for athletes returning from professional sports.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of furious
Adjective
  • Reuters — Eight Indonesian airports, including two serving Jakarta, remained closed ​early on Monday morning because of volcanic ash from eruptions at Mount Anak ‌Krakatau, the transport minister said.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Anak Krakatau is a volcanic island in the Sunda Strait between Indonesia's main islands of Java and Sumatra.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of volcanic

Browse Nearby Words

tempests
tempestuous
temple
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Cite this Entry

“Tempestuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempestuous. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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