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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There’s a huge commotion around us.—
Eli Sharabi,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The K-pop contingent caused a commotion, with Blackpink’s Lisa snapping pics with Stray Kids’ Felix.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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What To Know As of early Wednesday, a winter weather advisory is in place for Alaska’s Atigun Pass, where the NWS said snow accumulations between five and 10 inches, as well as wind gusts as high as 55 miles per hour, are expected.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
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If gusts build, expect lower trajectories, more long irons off tees and conservative lines to back pins.—
Jenny Catlin,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Tuesday afternoon, the hurricane center also flagged another disturbance to watch.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
6 Oct. 2025
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Key Takeaways Time changes can increase stroke risk and cause mood changes and sleep disturbances.—
Mira Miller,
Verywell Health,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Yes, the Seahawks entered the game short-handed in the secondary, then suffered another blow when cornerback Riq Woolen suffered a concussion in the third quarter.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Business is booming, but President Chris Kohnle worries the 80-year-old, family-run establishment could soon take a blow.—
Miranda Dunlap,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Along with each political plot twist in the paddock, technological advancements cause quite a stir.—
Alex Kalinauckas,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
That calmness, however, was soon overtaken by the kitchen, with the hiss of the pans, stir of the pots and sharp calls exchanged between cooks quickly filling the air, along with the sounds of an upbeat Peruvian song playing in the background.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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While they’re usually made from a hard plastic and can take up precious space in your drawer or cabinet, these funnels are made from flexible silicone and have a space-saving, foldable design to make storing them a breeze.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
8 Oct. 2025
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From vegetables and berries to whole grains and lean proteins, the freezer aisle is full of healthy foods that can make preparing quick, balanced meals a breeze.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Uiagalelei has 18 pressures and four sacks this season and has been a force all over the field, including an impressive performance (six pressures, five hurries, one sack) at Penn State last week.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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The outlook looks bleak if rookies Kenneth Grant and Jordan Phillips don’t improve in a hurry.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 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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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 9 Oct. 2025.
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