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Sturm und Drang

American  
[shtoorm oont drahng] / ˌʃtʊərm ʊnt ˈdrɑŋ /

noun

  1. a style or movement of German literature of the latter half of the 18th century: characterized chiefly by impetuosity of manner, exaltation of individual sensibility and intuitive perception, opposition to established forms of society and thought, and extreme nationalism.

  2. tumult; turmoil; upheaval.


Sturm und Drang British  
/ ˈʃtʊrm ʊnt ˈdraŋ /

noun

  1. a German literary movement of the latter half of the 18th century, characterized by a reaction against rationalism

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Sturm und Drang

< German: literally, storm and stress

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

But beneath all the Sturm und Drang, the AI trade had already started to reconfigure itself.

From Barron's Nov. 28, 2025

Let’s circle back to the Sturm und Drang about whole milk making kids gain weight — a main reason behind long-standing recommendations that children stop drinking whole milk at age 2.

From Seattle Times Jul. 3, 2023

So has all the Sturm und Drang been a big hullaballoo over nothing?

From Slate Feb. 8, 2023

After all that Sturm und Drang, “Don’t Worry Darling” opened in first place at the domestic box office with $19.2 million — a solid showing, particularly given the less-than-glowing reviews.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 28, 2022

They had, after all, rejected the Sturm und Drang of Du Bois for the accommodationism of Booker T. Washington.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

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