tumults

noun

plural of tumult
1
as in commotions
a state of noisy, confused activity in the tumult of the evacuation from the coast, we accidentally left on the television, which was of course tuned to the local newscast breathlessly reporting on the hurricane we were fleeing

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2
as in upheavals
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order) the political tumult that swept the American colonies in the late 1700s

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3
as in noises
a violent shouting went to the window to see what the great tumult was and discovered a crowd of demonstrators marching down the street

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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 tumults The thousands of square miles of mountain watershed around us, the San Gabriels and the San Bernardinos, are as steep as roller coasters, and the rain funnels off them in tumults. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 Even The New York Times has dedicated dozens of headlines to this year’s reality TV tumults. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tumults
  1. commotions
  2. upheavals
  3. noises
  4. disturbances
  5. revolutions
  6. roars
  7. turmoils
  8. insurrections
Noun
  • Over the past year, men’s ski jumping has been marred by Norway’s cheating scandal and more recent genital manipulation rumors, which has become one of the early commotions of the Milano-Cortina Games.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of commotions
Noun
  • Against encroaching social upheavals, the sovereign was resolutely the center of a mercantilist universe.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The underlying motivation for African policymakers is to untether their economies from commodity cycles and, by extension, the upheavals that come with them.
    — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of upheavals
Noun
  • The first time, Lalo heard noises in the hallway and opened his bedroom door.
    — Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The fire was reported by the homeowner who was inside the residence and heard strange noises outside, according to the fire district.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of noises
Noun
  • Atomic nuclei are far smaller and better shielded from external disturbances than outer electrons.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The military prison study assessed whether the gloves could be used effectively to forcibly remove combative prisoners from their cells, to respond to disturbances in common areas and to transport uncooperative inmates.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of disturbances
Noun
  • These job changes seem frightening because past tech revolutions have shut people out.
    — Pat Gelsinger, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • One of the most challenging blind spots in modern leadership is learning how to guide our own internal systems through whirlwind revolutions, life transitions and change.
    — Patrick Murphy, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of revolutions
Noun
  • Trains rumble behind the main stadiums, Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong, while planes approaching and departing from La Guardia Airport bring their stomach-churning roars.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Exactly 60 years after Williams’ induction speech on the steps of the Hall of Fame, Baker walked into the Hall and was greeted by the loud roars of another Boston Red Sox legend, David Ortiz.
    — Jose de Jesus Ortiz, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of roars
Noun
  • About two couples, connected and dependent on one another, raising their kids alongside each other, facing the same turmoils, the same existential questions.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Mayer and Strong offer a broad pop-history lesson, in which the same tensions and turmoils churn on and on in their terrible cycle throughout the decades; the only thing that’s changed are the aesthetics.
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Definition of turmoils
Noun
  • There were rebellions, insurrections and an Appian Way lined with crucifixions.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
  • But the regime, besieged by insurrections across the country, abandoned Manbij.
    — Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
Definition of insurrections

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Cite this Entry

“Tumults.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tumults. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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