tempestuous

[tem-pes-choo-uhs]

adjective

1. characterized by or subject to tempests.

   the tempestuous ocean.

2. of the nature of or resembling a tempest.

   a tempestuous wind.

   Synonyms: stormy, violent

3. tumultuous; turbulent.

   a tempestuous period in history.

tempestuous

/ tɛmˈpɛstjʊəs /

adjective

1. of or relating to a tempest

2. violent or stormy

   a tempestuous love affair

Other Word Forms

• tempestuously adverb
• tempestuousness noun
• untempestuous adjective
• untempestuousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tempestuous¹

First recorded in 1500–10; from Late Latin tempestuōsus, derivative of tempestus, variant of tempestās tempest ( -ous ); replacing earlier tempeste(u)ous, tempestious ( -eous, -ious )

Example Sentences

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.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Since then, Red Bull have gone through a tempestuous period, including a decline in their competitiveness.

Read more on BBC

Elon Musk's time in the Trump administration is coming to an end after a tempestuous 129 days in which the world's richest man took an axe to government spending - stirring ample controversy along the way.

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But the relationship was tempestuous from the start.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

And Gandolfini, who died of a heart attack in 2013 at age 51, was the show’s tempestuous soul, playing a loutish killer with a quick temper and sad eyes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• heated 
• impassioned 
• passionate 
• turbulent