1
as in turbulent
marked by sudden or violent disturbance
one of the most tumultuous periods in the history of the region
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2
as in rough
marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements
watched the tumultuous weather from the dry safety of our house
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3
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
after a tumultuous day of trading, the stock market was down 500 points
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Recent Examples of tumultuous
Dive deeper in the genre by flashing-forward to 1970s Harlem, and wrap yourself in tumultuous hurdles that can’t stop the love between Tish and Fonny in James Baldwin’s If Beale Street Could Talk.
—
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
There was a tumultuous battle between the combatants but alas, the giant scorpion fatally bit Artemis’ boyfriend.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Lee's three-shot lead coming into Sunday's final round evaporated on a tumultuous front-nine with double bogeys at the par-4 5th and 9th which saw the South Korean surrender the lead to Zhang.
—ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
Even the Vegas Golden Knights or Edmonton Oilers figuring out their situations after tumultuous regular seasons wouldn’t be a shock.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tumultuous
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
There was a tumultuous battle between the combatants but alas, the giant scorpion fatally bit Artemis’ boyfriend.
—Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
Lee's three-shot lead coming into Sunday's final round evaporated on a tumultuous front-nine with double bogeys at the par-4 5th and 9th which saw the South Korean surrender the lead to Zhang.
—ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
Even the Vegas Golden Knights or Edmonton Oilers figuring out their situations after tumultuous regular seasons wouldn’t be a shock.
—James Mirtle, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tumultuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumultuous
Adjective
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The former ambassador leaves the post after a turbulent, combative year at the arts institution.—
Geoff Edgers,
Washington Post,
14 Mar. 2026
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Multiple sources have indicated the Aztecs won’t accept either and instead get started on what figures to be a turbulent offseason.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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If that means getting rougher and going outside of the rules and expectations for appropriate use of force, that’s all fine.—
Bob Ortega,
CNN Money,
10 Mar. 2026
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The Dolphins went 7-10 and missed the playoffs last season, benching Tagovailoa in favor of Quinn Ewers for the final three games, ending a rough season for the former Alabama star.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The death of a star is usually thought to be a violent and hostile place, filled with scorching radiation that destroys fragile molecules.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
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Last year, the county sued NaphCare for its alleged role in the death of Brandon Yates, who was murdered in the Central Jail in 2024 after being wrongly placed into a cell with a violent offender.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Anyone who has defied the regime before has risked their life to do so, and – despite being at the mercy of the most ferocious military machine on the face of the planet – the regime might yet survive.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
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American Nathan Martin, a 36-year-old high school cross-country coach from Jackson, Michigan, ran 2 hours, 11 minutes and 16 seconds (five minutes per mile) to claim victory with a ferocious kick that came down to his final stride.—
John Davis,
Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The steep fee, enacted in 2015 due to surging demand among American expatriates seeking to avoid new tax reporting requirements, faced fierce opposition.—
Matthew Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
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No single line embodies both the overflowing kindness and fierce competence of small-town Brainerd's chief of police, Marge Gunderson.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Hensley made 23 saves and the Frost held off a furious rally from the New York Sirens to win 4-3 in front of 15,512 fans — another statement of intent for this city and its hope to land a professional women’s hockey team in the near future.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
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The triple gave the Mavericks a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter and sent fans at Rocket Arena into a furious rage.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tumultuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tumultuous. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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