tumultuous

[too-muhl-choo-uhs, tyoo-]

adjective

1. full of tumult or riotousness; marked by disturbance and uproar.

   a tumultuous celebration.

   Synonyms: violent, turbulent, uproarious
   Antonyms: quiet, calm

2. raising a great clatter and commotion; disorderly or noisy.

   a tumultuous crowd of students.

   Synonyms: boisterous
   Antonyms: quiet, calm

3. highly agitated, as the mind or emotions; distraught; turbulent.

   Synonyms: unquiet
   Antonyms: quiet, calm

tumultuous

/ tjuːˈmʌltjʊəs /

adjective

1. uproarious, riotous, or turbulent

   a tumultuous welcome

2. greatly agitated, confused, or disturbed

   a tumultuous dream

3. making a loud or unruly disturbance

   tumultuous insurgents

Other Word Forms

• tumultuously adverb
• tumultuousness noun
• nontumultuous adjective
• nontumultuously adverb
• nontumultuousness noun
• untumultuous adjective
• untumultuously adverb
• untumultuousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tumultuous¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin tumultuōsus, from tumultu(s) tumult + -ōsus -ous

Example Sentences

Despite being set in 19th Century Dublin and New York, the House of Guinness captures the family's tumultuous tale within the walls of Penrhyn Castle, in Bangor, Gwynedd.

From BBC

Even in these tumultuous times, these three things remain constant — death, taxes and “Law & Order.”

From Los Angeles Times

On Sunday night, the inboxes of the families with children at the kindergarten pinged with an email from management wanting to address a "tumultuous" few weeks.

From BBC

He still calls that tumultuous final day when Europe surged back from 10-6 down "horrifying".

From BBC

The wedding, an ultimate happy ending for the couple after their tumultuous three-season journey of first love and heartbreak, was originally revealed in the epilogue of Han’s third “Summer” novel, “We’ll Always Have Summer.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• boisterous 
• fierce 
• hectic 
• raucous 
• riotous 
• stormy 
• turbulent 
• violent