1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
there was a welter of pushing and shoving as people rushed to grab the best seats for the outdoor concert
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in jumble
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things
a welter of junk in the closet, most of which needed to be thrown out
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in havoc
a state in which everything is out of order
the claim that a troop withdrawal would plunge the country into a welter of anarchy and endless civil war
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of welter
Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 25 July 2025
While Kim guided the Theresa through a welter of charterboats trolling the shoreline for blues and stripers, the brothers sat on the flying bridge, joking and trading stories and scanning the flat empty sea for the black dorsal fin of basking swordfish.
—Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
By analyzing the positions of ten Southeast Asian countries on a welter of issues relating to China and the United States, one thing becomes evident: over the past 30 years, many of these countries have gradually but discernibly shifted away from the United States and toward China.
—Yuen Foong Khong, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Sharpened in purpose by his criminal prosecutions and near death at the hands of a would-be assassin, Trump 47 would not be lost in a welter of self-defeating distractions the way Trump 45 had been.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for welter
Verb
The result was very close, and the output of a welter of different inputs.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 25 July 2025
While Kim guided the Theresa through a welter of charterboats trolling the shoreline for blues and stripers, the brothers sat on the flying bridge, joking and trading stories and scanning the flat empty sea for the black dorsal fin of basking swordfish.
—Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
By analyzing the positions of ten Southeast Asian countries on a welter of issues relating to China and the United States, one thing becomes evident: over the past 30 years, many of these countries have gradually but discernibly shifted away from the United States and toward China.
—Yuen Foong Khong, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Sharpened in purpose by his criminal prosecutions and near death at the hands of a would-be assassin, Trump 47 would not be lost in a welter of self-defeating distractions the way Trump 45 had been.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for welter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for welter
Noun
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Shannon moans right about the time Jenn walks out to see what the commotion is all about.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
10 Oct. 2025
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Glenn wasn’t met with cheers or the sounds of flashing cameras — there was a distinct lack of commotion.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Ray’s most chaotic photograms—jumbles that push out of the frame or look like time bombs ready to explode—find echoes in his films, projected on the back walls, a show in themselves.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
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In jumbles of old stones that, to me, are barely legible as the remains of buildings, Cocon López could see the entire timeline of old Aké and how later people interacted with and repurposed what came before.—
Lizzie Wade,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Almost serpentine in her shimmering elegance, Thompson’s Hedda glides from room to room wreaking social havoc with her guests, an old lover, and even her husband that will, ultimately, have tragic consequences for all.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Oct. 2025
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In contrast, effective interplay between James McClean, Doyle and O’Brien down the left was minimal, allowing QPR to dominate that flank, particularly during a first half when Harvey Vale and Rumarn Burrell caused havoc.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This movie doesn’t wallow in predictability.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
11 Oct. 2025
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Reeves is a cranky, deadpanning Estragon, wallowing in frustration as his gangly limbs swing, unwillingly turning to his friend but also welcoming the help, the hugs.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The popular Bandai Namco childlike-horror franchise Little Nightmares is back and with more disturbances in tow.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
10 Oct. 2025
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Once formed, these waves can travel across entire ocean basins, radiating outward from the point of disturbance and impacting coastlines far from the origin.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The dishes are fresh and vibrant, infusing a medley of spices with quality ingredients to produce tasty creations.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
13 Oct. 2025
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Here, she's seen performing on her variety show, which featured a number of famous guests and her own musical medleys.—
Andrea Wurzburger,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In the chaos of a collision, especially one involving fast-moving vehicles, capturing a clear license plate is often impossible.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
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Almost as suddenly as the whirlwind appears, the entire platform collapses in a fury of flames and chaos.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Sharks also shuffled their defense pairs for Monday’s practice, with Dmitry Orlov and Mario Ferraro forming the top line, Nick Leddy with Timothy Liljegren, and Sam Dickinson paired with John Klingberg.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
13 Oct. 2025
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Couples, girlfriends, and wellness aficionados were shuffling from pool to plunge, catching up, sitting close, and enjoying the experience together.—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Welter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/welter. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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