1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
in the tumult of the evacuation from the coast, we accidentally left on the television, which was of course tuned to the local newscast breathlessly reporting on the hurricane we were fleeing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
the political tumult that swept the American colonies in the late 1700s
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in roar
a violent shouting
went to the window to see what the great tumult was and discovered a crowd of demonstrators marching down the street
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 tumult
It was believed to be lost, destroyed in the tumult of World War II or perhaps by Cantor himself.
—
Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 25 Feb. 2026
As if attempting to display all this tumult on the slopes, the forty-one-year-old skier Lindsey Vonn crashed violently after her pole hooked a gate during the women’s downhill race.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
Each refers to the personal tumult that seemed to follow the architect through much of his adult life.
—Carrie Hojnicki, Architectural Digest, 20 Feb. 2026
In the popular overture, elicitation of tumult concludes, with startling exhilaration, in the kind of grand Beethovenian triumph that never fails to excite.
—Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tumult
Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 25 Feb. 2026
As if attempting to display all this tumult on the slopes, the forty-one-year-old skier Lindsey Vonn crashed violently after her pole hooked a gate during the women’s downhill race.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
Each refers to the personal tumult that seemed to follow the architect through much of his adult life.
—Carrie Hojnicki, Architectural Digest, 20 Feb. 2026
In the popular overture, elicitation of tumult concludes, with startling exhilaration, in the kind of grand Beethovenian triumph that never fails to excite.
—Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tumult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumult
Noun
-
No shove, no commotion, no clue.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Multiple people were escorted out of the room amid the commotion.—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The war's devastation has spilled across the region, throwing it into upheaval and leaving many questioning when the conflict will end and how much more will be lost.—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The film chronicles a global panic and societal upheaval when humanity receives undeniable proof that aliens exist.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
At the end of every episode, the SXSW audience let out a roar that seemed to get louder each time.—
Jada Yuan,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Before any roar from the crowd at Austin’s Paramount Theatre, the Hall of Fame has a tradition in the walk-up to SXSW, lauding the Lone Star state’s most platinum in cinema at The Texas Film Awards, who are then inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
At Usangu Expedition Camp in Tanzania, for example, guides have replaced bright spotlights with thermal cameras so guests can observe critters with minimal disturbance.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Even the current first-line oral treatment, fexinidazole, must be taken for 10 days and comes with severe side effects such as nausea, vomiting and heart-rhythm disturbances.—
Fran Kritz,
NPR,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Back then, neither of us could have foreseen the pandemic, Georgia’s growing political unrest, a war in neighboring Ukraine, or the collapse of several multi-brand retailers, which altogether has slowed down progress for Situationist and Georgian fashion more broadly.—
Lucy Maguire,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Cruise lines may adjust itineraries due to security concerns, such as military action or civil unrest, along with other reasons like severe weather.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Boston bats made little noise all night in North Port.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Comfort grows as the instinctive Moon centers your 4th House of Home and Family, bringing attention to routines that shelter you from the world’s noise.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The album reflects all the turmoil and subsequent tranquility that Blake found within the music.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
At that time, Iran was in turmoil several weeks after the death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who had been detained for allegedly violating a strict Islamic dress code.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Aquilla Sadalla’s wordless vocals, a gorgeous swell of howls and heaves, complement the arrangement without becoming the focal point.—
Mark Richardson,
Pitchfork,
3 Feb. 2026
-
At about two this morning, the familiar howl of air-raid sirens woke me in the center of Kyiv, followed by the low thuds of anti-aircraft cannons attempting to shoot down Russian drones.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tumult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tumult. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
