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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tumult
Since last summer, the agency’s tumult was widely known and a source of frustration for lawmakers and Abbott’s office – and something Opiela was aware of days before Bingaman was dismissed.
—
Dug Begley, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026
And despite the wins, some Republicans see the tumult as more of a liability for 2026.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 1 May 2026
The attempt to remove Lawrie from her position at the school district comes at a time of tumult within KCKPS’ special education program.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
America has mostly been spared from the tumult.
—Ben Casselman Qilai Shen Lisa Lerer William J. Burns, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tumult
Dug Begley, Houston Chronicle, 4 May 2026
And despite the wins, some Republicans see the tumult as more of a liability for 2026.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 1 May 2026
The attempt to remove Lawrie from her position at the school district comes at a time of tumult within KCKPS’ special education program.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
America has mostly been spared from the tumult.
—Ben Casselman Qilai Shen Lisa Lerer William J. Burns, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tumult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumult
Noun
-
In his opening arguments, Haytham Faraj, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said Valentina and her mother had hidden in a changing room on the second floor amid the commotion of the police response.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
In the commotion, Tepikian said another car hit her SUV at the intersection of West Pennway, West 21st and Summit streets.—
Eleanor Nash
Updated May 3,
Kansas City Star,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
The trio of titles making the rounds at Cannes are exemplars of the type of material Anonymous Content intends to pursue that this moment of great upheaval across film and TV.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
8 May 2026
-
The road to Little Simz’s last full-length album, 2025’s Lotus, was fraught with legal woes and interpersonal upheaval.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Clark and her teammates walked down the stairs and through the crowd to the court for player introductions with the loudest roar, naturally, reserved for Clark.—
Michael Marot,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2026
-
Resident colobus monkeys’ distinctly guttural roars serve as singular natural alarms at daybreak, when an inspired array of adventures await.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Increasing heat and humidity could spark showers and storms Friday morning, but a better chance for more widespread storms arrives Friday night into Saturday as a stronger disturbance moves in, according to the weather service.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2026
-
Avoid spring pruning to let blooms fully develop and prevent unnecessary disturbance to the tree.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Cárdenas returned to Nicaragua in the late 1970s to live in semi-retirement, but political unrest in the country, in the form of the Sandinista National Liberation Front, forced him to flee and eventually return to the United States.—
Ed Guzman,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
Russia is now roiled by rumors of organized unrest with months to go before parliamentary elections, while Putin himself faces allegations of extreme isolation and a weakening grip on power.—
Rafi Schwartz,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Surveying the space they’re tasked with protecting, the two men grouse about the incessant noise of FedEx workers packing up storefronts on rolling large cardboard boxes toward the exits.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
John Harbaugh looked up as the noise built to a crescendo on Saturday.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The bloc has been forging new trade relationships, like an expansive trade agreement with the European Union, in the wake of the tariff turmoil that has seen many of America’s closest trade ties unravel.—
Kate Nishimura,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
-
On the surface, Middle of Nowhere outlines the turmoil before and after an ex’s disappearing act.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Such prices have set off howls of protest from some fans.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
My 2-year-old daughter’s howls of protest echoed through the previously silent forest of towering Norway spruce.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tumult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tumult. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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