adjective
-
of or relating to a tempest
-
violent or stormy
a tempestuous love affair
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tempestuous
First recorded in 1500–10; from Late Latin tempestuōsus, derivative of tempestus, variant of tempestās tempest ( see -ous); replacing earlier tempeste(u)ous, tempestious ( see -eous, -ious)
Explanation
A tempest is a storm, so you can use the adjective tempestuous to describe anything stormy or volatile — from a tempestuous hurricane to a tempestuous romance. The adjective tempestuous can describe violent weather, but it can also figuratively describe something that just has the characteristics of such blustery and turbulent weather. People could be described as tempestuous if they're prone to violent mood swings and fits of passion. Impetuous is a synonym. The author Joseph Conrad once wrote, "To have his path made clear for him is the aspiration of every human being in our beclouded and tempestuous existence."
Vocabulary lists containing tempestuous
100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Unit 1: Telling Details
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Banana Tree" by James Berry
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Hanley has had a tempestuous international career, parts of it playing out against a negative backdrop from the Tartan Army.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
All that positivity, smiling, parades, the unbridled civic joy inspired by a championship…it wears a bit weird, even to the devoted who ride with this tempestuous franchise.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026
The St. George Reef Lighthouse, six miles off the coast of California’s sparsely populated northwest corner, stands atop a sheer rock surrounded by nothing but the cold, tempestuous Pacific.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 26, 2025
When the tempestuous swings of the algorithms meant standard, free social media posts weren’t getting the visibility they used to, many businesses shifted to ads instead.
From Slate • Jul. 16, 2025
Love is not a tempestuous sea; it is a calm river.
From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
