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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
The tumult of the war didn’t change that investment rating.
—
Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Creation of a legendary company amid tumult Plenty of drama enveloped the run-up to the creation of General Electric in 1892.
—Michael Kilian, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
This tumult gave rise to the political philosophies of communism and anarchism, as well as the early labor movement.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
Researchers worried the tumult would continue into 2026, as the NSF seemed to spike more applications than normal.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tumult
Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
Creation of a legendary company amid tumult Plenty of drama enveloped the run-up to the creation of General Electric in 1892.
—Michael Kilian, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
This tumult gave rise to the political philosophies of communism and anarchism, as well as the early labor movement.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2026
Researchers worried the tumult would continue into 2026, as the NSF seemed to spike more applications than normal.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tumult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumult
Noun
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Linderbaum, a Pro Bowl selection in each of the past three seasons, signed a three-year, $81 million deal with the Raiders at the start of free agency, which added additional intrigue to the commotion surrounding Baltimore’s abandonment of the Crosby trade.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Could hear what sounded like gunshots or commotion.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Mayor Dean Trantalis and Commissioner Steve Glassman behave as though Fort Lauderdale is their personal canvas for legacy-building, rather than a city facing multi‑year budget deficits, potential property tax upheaval, and residents already stretched thin.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
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During Francis’s pontificate, the Vatican appointed an AI adviser who worked with Silicon Valley leaders, heads of state, and the United Nations to protect those most vulnerable to the coming technological upheaval.—
Elias Wachtel,
The Atlantic,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Staff remembered him for his calm temperament, distinctive mane and loud roar — as well as a goofy streak, the zoo said.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Shadows and strange sounds can set imaginations whirring—from the guttural roar of a hunting lion to the giggling calls of a feasting hyena pack.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But since that ridge shifted from Northern California in early April, the new pattern has invited multiple low-pressure disturbances into the region.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
About 4% of those students — or roughly 300,000 students — are labeled with emotional disturbance.—
Laurie Stern,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That is, up until the 1911 census, after which unrest put the practice on pause.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Turkey denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
October 23 – November 21 Your focus cuts through noise and moves things forward.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Scorpio October 23 – November 21 Your focus cuts through noise and moves things forward.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The turmoil has included the sudden resignation of then-Supt.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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The Twin Cities’ response to a sweeping federal immigration crackdown that threw communities and local economies into turmoil offers a glimpse of what resilience and solidarity look like in practice.—
Melissa Jun Rowley,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Such prices have set off howls of protest from some fans.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
My 2-year-old daughter’s howls of protest echoed through the previously silent forest of towering Norway spruce.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tumult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tumult. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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