TEMPESTUOUS Synonyms: 112 Similar and Opposite Words

tempestuous

adjective

tem-ˈpes-chə-wəs

Definition of tempestuous

as in violent

marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity order was restored to the court after the judge put a stop to the defendant's tempestuous outburst

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in turbulent

marked by sudden or violent disturbance in terms of social change, the 1960s are generally considered the most tempestuous decade in recent American history

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in rough

marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements we spent a tempestuous night stranded on the summit of the mountain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bleak

marked by wet and windy conditions stay indoors this weekend as the weather promises to be tempestuous

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of tempestuous Perhaps even more challenging than all that – at least initially – is the tempestuous relationship that develops between Hal and John. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026 Jodie Hollander Finds Unlikely Inspiration Writing on Location During my tempestuous teenage years, I was attracted to the work of Sylvia Plath. — Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026 My first match with Taylor was as his assistant on a tempestuous game between Leicester City and Watford in 2007 that produced 11 yellow cards and a mass brawl. — David Ornstein, New York Times, 21 July 2026 In the Faroe Islands, Nature Rewards Patience The remote archipelago is welcoming more visitors every year—but a tempestuous climate and steadfast way of life encourage travelers to bend. — Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for tempestuous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempestuous

Adjective

Government critics and human rights campaigners have alleged that police tactics in the last month have been unnecessarily violent.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
But complicating the government's efforts to bring the French deficit under control are widespread protests that have turned increasingly violent since starting as a Parisian student movement last month.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of violent

Adjective

Still, Saudi Arabia has viewed attendance at the event, and general support for the Gulf during turbulent times, as a loyalty test for global business leaders.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Zacharia’s time in China was just one of her career highlights that triggered intense media scrutiny following her brief and turbulent appointment as White House press secretary.

— John Liu, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of turbulent

Adjective

Already postponed 24 hours, the invasion proceeded in the face of rough seas, strong winds, and low visibility in order to seize a small window in time of enormous consequence.

— Marc E. Andersen, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026
Japanese flight controllers want to avoid powdery soil and rough terrain when the mothership, a four-legged stationary lander, descends to the surface to gather samples in late 2028 or 2029.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of rough

Adjective

One of the most celebrated objects from the India Museum is a mechanical wooden sculpture of a ferocious tiger gnawing at a British soldier’s throat.

— Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Wilson rocked the stanchion with a ferocious dunk in transition in the fourth quarter, only to have his next attempt at a full-court sprint smacked away by Jamal Shead, leading to a Leonard 3-pointer on the other end.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of ferocious

Adjective

Projects that communities had originally welcomed were suddenly met with fierce opposition, and companies had to improve.

— Neil Chatterjee, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
What is to come afterwards is when their world is on fire as the fierce Battle Of Okinawa Island takes them , and us, back to sad reality.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of fierce

Adjective

Then, during our planet’s infancy, volcanic upheaval and deep-earth alchemy created more than a thousand new minerals.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Highlights include the verdant jungle at Cap Cana, the lush volcanic slopes above Saint-Pierre in Martinique, and the coral gardens off Kralendijk in Bonaire.

— Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of volcanic

Browse Nearby Words

tempests

tempestuous

temple

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“Tempestuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempestuous. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of tempestuous

adjective

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