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 dominant use of williwaw throughout the 19th century was in relation to storms around Cape Horn, including the Straits of Magellan.
—David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 4 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 dominant use of williwaw throughout the 19th century was in relation to storms around Cape Horn, including the Straits of Magellan.
—David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 4 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 the commotion their accidental twinning caused online, Roach — who was filmed cooly reacting to seeing Sawai on the carpet — confirms that the vibes are all good not only between the two stars, but also between himself and Sawai's stylist.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
14 May 2025
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Many things emboldened me to create this commotion.—
Sherry Kuehl,
Kansas City Star,
13 May 2025
Noun
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Wind gusts of up to 50 mph and pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) are anticipated.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
17 May 2025
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Winds are expected to be north winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph expected.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 May 2025
Noun
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On a random note: Long before those assignments, Chuck was pepper-sprayed covering the disturbances in Miami the morning Elián Gonzalez was whisked away by federal authorities.—
Charles Rabin,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2025
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There isn’t much built in to withstand those kinds of disturbances or fluctuations.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
9 May 2025
Noun
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President Donald Trump has failed to make Ed Martin the permanent U.S. prosecutor for the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., in what is a blow to his administration's goals.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
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The endorsement is also a blow to former Ohio State University football coach and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, who was considering entering the gubernatorial race, as well as Attorney General Dave Yost, who is running to succeed DeWine.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
9 May 2025
Noun
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Cannes, the famous international film festival in the south of France, is underway – and is causing a stir with its new dress code rules.—
Rebecca Morin,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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Sounds simple enough, but additive-free tequila has caused a stir in Mexico and elsewhere.—
John Kell,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Noun
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Without a wire to handle or restrict you to the nearest power outlet, the cordless vacuum is a breeze to maneuver.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
15 May 2025
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This is a red flag, snapping in the ideological breeze.—
Neal B. Freeman,
National Review,
13 May 2025
Noun
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That will change in a hurry if the Tar Heels win, of course.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
14 May 2025
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And with good reason; the scenes depicted in the film still pack a punch in 2025, and the like won’t be seen again in a hurry.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
14 May 2025
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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Their optimism regarding the possible Iranian retaliation would be based on the history of Israeli resilience in the face of Iraq's scud attacks in 1991, and Hamas' and Hezbollah's rocket strikes.—
Dmitry Adamsky,
Foreign Affairs,
20 Feb. 2011
Cite this Entry
“Williwaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/williwaw. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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