1
as in storm
a disturbance of the atmosphere accompanied by wind and often by precipitation (as rain or snow)
the sudden summertime tempest drove us off the golf course and into the clubhouse
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in upheaval
a violent disturbance (as of the political or social order)
the town council handled the tempest over cuts to the school budget as well as could be expected
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tempest
Into this local tempest rode Richard Spencer on his own high white horse.
—
Deborah Baker
june 3, Literary Hub, 3 June 2025
Again, not for the first time in this matter, a tempest or a tea cup that is clear as mud.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 2 June 2025
Out of the midst of this thunder and turmoil and tempest rose Dr. Otto Lecher, serene and collected.
—Don Delillo, Harpers Magazine, 5 May 2025
Plagued by the tempests of drugs, murder, corruption and other vices of biblical proportion for much of the past five decades, residents in this tiny burg just south of Chicago are seeing a ray of divine hope in their most famous native son, Pope Leo XIV.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tempest
Deborah Baker
june 3, Literary Hub, 3 June 2025
Again, not for the first time in this matter, a tempest or a tea cup that is clear as mud.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 2 June 2025
Out of the midst of this thunder and turmoil and tempest rose Dr. Otto Lecher, serene and collected.
—Don Delillo, Harpers Magazine, 5 May 2025
Plagued by the tempests of drugs, murder, corruption and other vices of biblical proportion for much of the past five decades, residents in this tiny burg just south of Chicago are seeing a ray of divine hope in their most famous native son, Pope Leo XIV.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tempest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempest
Noun
-
Severe storms in the US this spring caused millions of dollars in damages to crops.—
Umair Irfan,
Wired News,
28 June 2025
-
Without the Defense Department data, there will be bigger gaps in time when forecasters will not know the current conditions inside a storm.—
Rebecca Hersher,
NPR,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
The dashboard comes at a time when the justice system is still adjusting to major changes, like the elimination of cash bail in 2023 in addition to the massive upheaval brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2025
-
The closing comes at a time of mild upheaval in the Coconut Grove culinary scene.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
The ship, Celebrity Edge, drifted from the pier during a sudden wind squall but was maneuvered back by the captain.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
17 June 2025
-
The Summit Venture, riding high in the water and thus more vulnerable to the wind, was entering the port for a load of phosphate when a sudden, blinding squall engulfed it.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2025
Noun
-
The Trump administration has pardoned all Jan. 6 protesters and has taken actions against those who prosecuted them for a variety of allegations connected to the unrest.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
28 June 2025
-
With features like blast-resistant walls, ballistic glass and rapid evacuation elevators, Aerie is built to handle everything from civil unrest to the most extreme emergencies.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
But a December revolution ended the Assad family’s rule, and the former Islamist militant who leads the new government has sought new investment and trade links, which Gulf states in particular have been quick to offer.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
1 July 2025
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On July 7th, Uranus, the planet of disruption, awakening, and revolution, enters Gemini for the first time since 1942.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
There are areas of Haiti that are that still have not recovered from the earthquake.—
Billal Rahman
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
-
Earth processes – such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions – also trigger cascading hazards, often with long-lasting effects.—
Brian J. Yanites,
The Conversation,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tempest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempest. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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