1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
the surprise verdict of the jury created a wild williwaw as reporters rushed to file their stories
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gust
a sudden brief rush of wind
a williwaw rose up seemingly out of nowhere and wreaked havoc with our campsite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of williwaw
The williwaw, a gale-force wind that came rolling down the mountain gathering speed, was depicted as a whorled cloud.
—
Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2022
The williwaw gusts swirled thick fog among transport ships off Attu Island, and the waiting infantrymen nervously mulled the name of their landing site: Massacre Bay.
—Alex Horton, Washington Post, 24 May 2018
Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2022
The williwaw gusts swirled thick fog among transport ships off Attu Island, and the waiting infantrymen nervously mulled the name of their landing site: Massacre Bay.
—Alex Horton, Washington Post, 24 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for williwaw
Noun
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Despite all the commotion happening online, Jim Carrey’s rep confirmed to TMZ that the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind actor did attend the awards ceremony.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
2 Mar. 2026
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Last June, Naomi Welikala noticed a line curving around the block of her local American Legion, an unassuming building that rarely invited commotion.—
Emma Madden,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Residents can be ready for wind gusts of up to 50 mph.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
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Look for tea-cup-sized hail (3 inches) and wind gusts of up to 60 mph.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Detainees struggle to obtain medication and healthcare, lose concerning amounts of weight because of a lack of food, and live in fear of private security guards known to use force to put down disturbances.—
Morgan Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Games between Rangers and Celtic are heavily policed and often lead to disturbances around the city of Glasgow, where both clubs are based.—
Luke Bosher,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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And the loss of Amarion Dickerson, who would’ve been a key rotation piece, ended up being a major blow for a team that was counting on everyone at the top of the rotation to deliver.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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His win in Istanbul in 2019 represented a crushing blow to Erdogan, whose own political ascent began as the city’s mayor.—
Beril Akman,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Pezeshkian's message, seemingly recorded in a hurry, underlined the limited powers exercised by the theocracy's leaders over the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls the hundreds of ballistic missiles targeting Israel and other countries.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
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Plus, the one-pull Quicklace design makes these easy to pull on in a hurry.—
Alexandra Pereira,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Taurus April 20 – May 20 The cosmic breeze is carrying fascinating scents, drawing you out of your comfort zone into curious explorations.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
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Here, the summer evening breeze ripples through the willows, and the terrace resounds with sounds of trout rising to catch the mayfly.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Actor Timothee Chalamet’s recent statements about ballet and opera have caused a stir online, and some Atlanta arts institutions are responding to the controversy.—
Olivia Wakim,
AJC.com,
10 Mar. 2026
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This is a great thing for stir-frying.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Winners that scud through the court from all directions.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
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In low, clear water when trout are spooky, a bait presented on a dry fly or scud hook will drift more naturally with the current and that can mean the difference between a take and a pass.—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
7 Mar. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Williwaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/williwaw. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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