1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
in the tumult of the evacuation from the coast, we accidentally left on the television, which was of course tuned to the local newscast breathlessly reporting on the hurricane we were fleeing
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2
as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
the political tumult that swept the American colonies in the late 1700s
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3
as in roar
a violent shouting
went to the window to see what the great tumult was and discovered a crowd of demonstrators marching down the street
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tumult
As detailed by The Athletic, Amorim’s demise came amid tensions with various members of United staff, and after a 14-month spell in charge pockmarked by tumult.
—
Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Fleck is the latest in a line of performers who have canceled engagements to perform at the Kennedy Center amidst the tumult.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 7 Jan. 2026
There has been a silver lining amidst the tumult—shows are still really good.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 1 Jan. 2026
Amid the tumult, peacemaking remains difficult and, in many regions, conflicts that simmered for years are spreading.
—Susannah George, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tumult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumult
Noun
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During the commotion, the agent’s shaky cellphone video shows houses along the street and views of the sky.—
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In the heat of the moment, though, Certa was clearly walking after one of the officials, but Shrewsberry came barreling in as the official turned around to see the commotion.—
Noun
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These are among the many questions posed by Simon Morrison’s sprawling biography of place, which seeks to understand a nation through the life of its largest city, tracing Moscow’s evolution via dozens of historical upheavals, from war, famine, drought, and much, much more.—
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It’s been a big year of upheaval for Allen, who split from ex David Harbour in February, per People.—
Noun
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An onboard synthesizer manipulates a small set of core sounds to mimic everything from the roar of a jet plane to the flushing of a toilet through a little speaker in the Brick.—
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The people want to see Varang’s fierce roars!—
Noun
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Investigators said the fire was sparked following a domestic disturbance that led a woman to burn her boyfriend’s clothing in a barbecue pit on an apartment patio, FOX26 Houston reported.—
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The country’s strong standing in safety could stem from several factors, including societal structure, strict laws, and cultural focus on harmony, which keep street crime and public disturbances very low.—
Noun
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Some other reports put the death toll from unrest much higher, with TIME citing a doctor in Tehran as saying at least 217 people had been killed, for instance.—
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In a statement broadcast by state TV, a security force known for quelling unrest accused terrorists of targeting military and law enforcement bases over the past two nights.—
Noun
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With the game tied at three in the final minutes, the noise level on the field sounded like multiple 747s were inches away from your ears.—
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Turns out, those crystal bowls and milk glass dishes—both of which made ample clinking noises—were perfect for alerting grandma that little ones were snagging candy before dinner.—
Noun
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There could be some relationship turmoil popping up for you now and in the weeks ahead, Gemini.—
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Amid the turmoil, former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky believes Burrow is wasting his prime years in Cincinnati.—
Noun
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United Methodist leadership with the bishop’s office preached to students, who welcomed the leaders with excited howls.—
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Frehley picks up on the drummer’s simmering syncopation hereand unleashes a banshee-like howl of a solo that still clings to the band’s rhythm.—
Cite this Entry
“Tumult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tumult. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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