tumultuous
Americanadjective
-
full of tumult or riotousness; marked by disturbance and uproar.
a tumultuous celebration.
- Synonyms:
- violent, turbulent, uproarious
-
raising a great clatter and commotion; disorderly or noisy.
a tumultuous crowd of students.
- Synonyms:
- boisterous
-
highly agitated, as the mind or emotions; distraught; turbulent.
- Synonyms:
- unquiet
adjective
-
uproarious, riotous, or turbulent
a tumultuous welcome
-
greatly agitated, confused, or disturbed
a tumultuous dream
-
making a loud or unruly disturbance
tumultuous insurgents
Other Word Forms
- nontumultuous adjective
- nontumultuously adverb
- nontumultuousness noun
- tumultuously adverb
- tumultuousness noun
- untumultuous adjective
- untumultuously adverb
- untumultuousness noun
Etymology
Origin of tumultuous
First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin tumultuōsus, from tumultu(s) tumult + -ōsus -ous
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.
Ned Davis Research’s Joe Kalish is interested in pivoting to Treasuries, even as the debt market wraps up a tumultuous week.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
The tumultuous tariff landscape of the past year hasn’t helped.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
Still, the CBA deal is a high-water mark for a league with a tumultuous history.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026
Ric Grenell, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, is stepping down from his role as the head of Kennedy Center after a tumultuous year at the iconic performing arts venue.
From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026
They look like the losers of a dramatic, tumultuous race, sitting on the floor.
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
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.
