1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
there was a welter of pushing and shoving as people rushed to grab the best seats for the outdoor concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in jumble
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things
a welter of junk in the closet, most of which needed to be thrown out
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in havoc
a state in which everything is out of order
the claim that a troop withdrawal would plunge the country into a welter of anarchy and endless civil war
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of welter
Alfredo Sosa, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Nov. 2025
The welter of Globo international partnerships and deals confirmed on stage on Sunday at Cannes Carlton Hotel by Angela Colla, Globo Head of International Business and Co-productions, did much to suggest that for Globo the future is beginning again.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
Looming over the welter of domestic problems is typhoon Trump.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
But that story of rapid growth and incipient liberalization concealed a much more complicated picture: China’s economy consisted of a welter of different actors pursuing different, sometimes contradictory interests.
—Yeling Tan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2021
See All Example Sentences for welter
Noun
Petrochemical plants convert hydrocarbons into materials that go into a welter of consumer goods – from plastics, clothing, and beauty products to digital devices and detergents.
—Alfredo Sosa, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Nov. 2025
The welter of Globo international partnerships and deals confirmed on stage on Sunday at Cannes Carlton Hotel by Angela Colla, Globo Head of International Business and Co-productions, did much to suggest that for Globo the future is beginning again.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
Looming over the welter of domestic problems is typhoon Trump.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
But that story of rapid growth and incipient liberalization concealed a much more complicated picture: China’s economy consisted of a welter of different actors pursuing different, sometimes contradictory interests.
—Yeling Tan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2021
See All Example Sentences for welter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for welter
Noun
-
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
-
Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If there’s trust on the back end, James can move up closer to the line of scrimmage to make plays and wreak havoc.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
For Trudeau, this week’s wildfires are yet another sign that climate change is wreaking havoc on natural ecosystems and increasing fire activity across the country, including in historically humid landscapes.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Most like to be clean, although wallowing in the mud does help keep them cool and protected from insects and the sun.—
Eric Adler
April 26,
Kansas City Star,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Unfortunately, Catherine would rather wallow in her own depression.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
17 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
-
Food scraps, leaves and wood chips are some essentials that make up the compost medley needed to repair the soil.—
Kara Finnstrom,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Jennifer Hudson delivered a Dreamgirls medley during the event, nodding to the 2006 film in which Murphy starred.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The table at the center of the room balances like a top on a single point, serving as a metaphor for the challenge of finding balance amid the chaos.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
My house isn't particularly quiet, though, with three under four constantly running around causing chaos.—
Joe Salas
April 25,
New Atlas,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Redick has had to shuffle the roster pieces around since, using the final five games of the regular season to assess his rotation options without Doncic and Reaves, who also missed 19 straight games from Christmas until February with a strained calf.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
30 Apr. 2026
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Parkinson’s stem cell trial is underway at UM At the University of Miami, neurologists are testing AI’s capabilities to shuffle through patient data to spot patterns that can help predict which patients may experience rapid decline.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Welter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/welter. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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