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
People caught in the tempest discovered the limits of human control.
—
Ethan Wolin
updated July 4, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2025
In this tempest of confusion, a welcome sea-change is occurring in markets: value is finally outperforming growth.
—James Berman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
The show actually opens in a lighter vein, with Kumar showing us the play’s inspiration: a 2017 photograph of the then four-year-old Prince George, which, at the time, caused a tempest in an online teapot.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 26 June 2025
These accoutrements saved our weekend when a late-May tempest blew across Colorado’s San Luis Valley one night.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tempest
Ethan Wolin
updated July 4, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2025
In this tempest of confusion, a welcome sea-change is occurring in markets: value is finally outperforming growth.
—James Berman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
The show actually opens in a lighter vein, with Kumar showing us the play’s inspiration: a 2017 photograph of the then four-year-old Prince George, which, at the time, caused a tempest in an online teapot.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 26 June 2025
These accoutrements saved our weekend when a late-May tempest blew across Colorado’s San Luis Valley one night.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tempest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempest
Noun
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As such, its Stow boot retains practical features like a watertight Goodyear storm welt and a half bellows tongue that will further deflect rain.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
17 Oct. 2025
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In some cases, a major winter storm will dump heavy snow in northern areas, while the South contends with a springlike severe storm threat from the same system.—
Chris Dolce,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Sri Lanka’s garment workers have borne the brunt of years of economic and political upheaval, which pushed inflation levels to impossible highs, devalued the national currency and caused the prices of basic commodities to soar beyond reach.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
20 Oct. 2025
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While those films were burned, what the West never knew was that those were not the only copies of these films as Hesse had stored the vast majority of the originals safely in London, away from the political upheaval.—
Diana Lodderhose,
Deadline,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This includes trailing showers or squalls, as the strengthening system passes to their north and east on Oct. 10 and into the weekend.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
8 Oct. 2025
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While flying over southeast Ohio, the Shenandoah encountered a powerful squall line that tore the airship apart.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Duffy did not cite specific intelligence, but his remarks echoed broader administration warnings about potential unrest tied to the protests this Saturday.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
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Missouri is chasing a rebound to keep its SEC title hopes alive, while Auburn and head coach Hugh Freeze are trying to quiet growing unrest.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Cohen reflected on his decades-long career shaping artists’ journeys and ushering in the digital music revolution.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
22 Oct. 2025
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Placing martech in the company-wide strategy The AI revolution offers a rare second chance, according to McKinsey.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The first is an earthquake that rattles the house into disarray.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
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Historical evidence suggests that a powerful earthquake and tsunami struck Alexandria centuries ago, causing much of the land to sink into the Mediterranean.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tempest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempest. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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