tumult

noun

tu·​mult ˈtü-ˌməlt 

ˈtyü-,

 also  ˈtə-

1

a

: disorderly agitation or milling about of a crowd usually with uproar and confusion of voices : commotion

b

: a turbulent uprising : riot

2

: hubbub, din

3

a

: violent agitation of mind or feelings

b

: a violent outburst

Synonyms

• commotion
• disturbance
• turmoil
• stir
• hurry
• fuss
• noise

Examples of tumult in a Sentence

We had to shout to be heard over the tumult.

The country was in tumult.

Her mind was in a tumult of emotions.

Recent Examples on the Web

Amid all that success, however, there was some tumult when original interior design expert Bobby Berk left the show in 2023. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2025

For Mao, this was to shore up power following the calamitous Great Leap Forward and amid the tumult of the Cultural Revolution. —William Hurst, Foreign Affairs, 3 July 2025

When everything’s already in tumult, your environment and people are already primed for change. —Sumeet Salwan, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025

But May 15 brought a cascade of twists and tumult that revealed more possible rifts between key players. —Erin Glynn, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tumulte, from Anglo-French, from Latin tumultus; perhaps akin to Sanskrit tumula noisy

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

tumult

noun

tu·​mult ˈt(y)ü-ˌməlt 

1

: uproar

a great tumult arose in the stands

2

: great confusion of mind