1
as in violent
marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity
order was restored to the court after the judge put a stop to the defendant's tempestuous outburst
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2
as in turbulent
marked by sudden or violent disturbance
in terms of social change, the 1960s are generally considered the most tempestuous decade in recent American history
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3
as in rough
marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements
we spent a tempestuous night stranded on the summit of the mountain
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4
as in bleak
marked by wet and windy conditions
stay indoors this weekend as the weather promises to be tempestuous
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tempestuous
Come for the Technicolor journey through the antebellum South, the Civil War, and Reconstruction, and stay for the tempestuous relationship between bullheaded Scarlett O’Hara (the magnificent Vivien Leigh) and dashing rogue Rhett Butler (Clark Gable).
—
Kevin Lincoln, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2025
Trump, meanwhile, is not a stranger to a tempestuous transition period.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
Of course, the incident blew up and there just had to be another round of controversy in cricket's most tempestuous rivalry.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Unfortunately for Donald Trump and his disciples, Mother Nature—like the equally tempestuous Stormy Daniels—can’t be bought off with hush money.
—Jack Sullivan, airmail.news, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tempestuous 
Kevin Lincoln, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2025
Trump, meanwhile, is not a stranger to a tempestuous transition period.
—Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
Of course, the incident blew up and there just had to be another round of controversy in cricket's most tempestuous rivalry.
—Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Unfortunately for Donald Trump and his disciples, Mother Nature—like the equally tempestuous Stormy Daniels—can’t be bought off with hush money.
—Jack Sullivan, airmail.news, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tempestuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempestuous
Adjective
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Long before 17-year-old Solomon Henderson walked into his school cafeteria with a gun, authorities in Tennessee were alerted to his threatening and violent behavior.—
Aliyya Swaby,
ProPublica,
8 Feb. 2025
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What if, the thinking goes, the prospect of CTE becomes an excuse for any violent or criminal behavior?—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The book explores the complexity of hope, the necessity of grief, and the need for new ways of thinking, becoming, and belonging in turbulent times.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2025
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Bill Hader says Ye would tell cast 'on the regular' that Saturday Night Live was 'incredibly unfunny' The development comes in the midst of an turbulent month for the rapper-slash-fashionista.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Most holes look exactly the same, straightforward with skinny fairways and thick rough.—
Brody Miller,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
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Another man was bitten nearby, and a teenager received a small wound when a shark ran into her and grazed her leg, either with its teeth or its rough skin.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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It was destroyed in the Eaton Fire, which spread at ferocious speeds in high winds, eventually destroying more than 9,000 houses and buildings around Altadena, Calif.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
23 Jan. 2025
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In the days after the fire, Anthony C. Marrone, the Los Angeles County fire chief, hammered the same message over and over: The flames were too ferocious and the winds too intense to stop the infernos of Tuesday night, Jan. 7.—
Jonathan Wolfe,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Veteran San Diego actor Rosina Reynolds is the cast standout in her icy, fierce and acerbic performance as the uncompromising Polly.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Feb. 2025
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Together, Toothless and Hiccup soar through the sky, barreling past rocky cliffs and roaring oceans and flying far above fierce battles as the music swells.—
Matt Minton,
Variety,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Rucks came up with an offensive rebound before drawing a foul and splitting a pair of free throws with 1:37 left to set up the final furious sequence.—
Chuck Livingston Special to the Democrat-Gazette,
arkansasonline.com,
8 Feb. 2025
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It was met with furious pushback, public outcry, and a string of defeats in court.—
Vox Staff,
Vox,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The geothermal area is far from the crowded Golden Circle and offers hikers the chance to experience surreal volcanic landscapes and soak in secluded geothermal pools.—
Becca Blond,
AFAR Media,
5 Feb. 2025
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Thousands of residents and seasonal workers have left the Cycladic Islands as quakes up to magnitude 5 have been recorded in the volcanic region since Friday.—
Derek Gatopoulos,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Fauci’s life has been threatened by rabid partisans.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2025
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In July, in front of a rabid crowd of bitcoiners, Trump promised to turn the US into a crypto mining powerhouse and establish a national bitcoin stockpile if reelected.—
Joel Khalili,
WIRED,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near tempestuous
Cite this Entry
“Tempestuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempestuous. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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