1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
there was a welter of pushing and shoving as people rushed to grab the best seats for the outdoor concert
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2
as in jumble
an unorganized collection or mixture of various things
a welter of junk in the closet, most of which needed to be thrown out
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in havoc
a state in which everything is out of order
the claim that a troop withdrawal would plunge the country into a welter of anarchy and endless civil war
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of welter
Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 25 July 2025
While Kim guided the Theresa through a welter of charterboats trolling the shoreline for blues and stripers, the brothers sat on the flying bridge, joking and trading stories and scanning the flat empty sea for the black dorsal fin of basking swordfish.
—Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
By analyzing the positions of ten Southeast Asian countries on a welter of issues relating to China and the United States, one thing becomes evident: over the past 30 years, many of these countries have gradually but discernibly shifted away from the United States and toward China.
—Yuen Foong Khong, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Sharpened in purpose by his criminal prosecutions and near death at the hands of a would-be assassin, Trump 47 would not be lost in a welter of self-defeating distractions the way Trump 45 had been.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for welter
Verb
The result was very close, and the output of a welter of different inputs.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 25 July 2025
While Kim guided the Theresa through a welter of charterboats trolling the shoreline for blues and stripers, the brothers sat on the flying bridge, joking and trading stories and scanning the flat empty sea for the black dorsal fin of basking swordfish.
—Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
By analyzing the positions of ten Southeast Asian countries on a welter of issues relating to China and the United States, one thing becomes evident: over the past 30 years, many of these countries have gradually but discernibly shifted away from the United States and toward China.
—Yuen Foong Khong, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Sharpened in purpose by his criminal prosecutions and near death at the hands of a would-be assassin, Trump 47 would not be lost in a welter of self-defeating distractions the way Trump 45 had been.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 25 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for welter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for welter
Noun
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Shannon moans right about the time Jenn walks out to see what the commotion is all about.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
10 Oct. 2025
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Glenn wasn’t met with cheers or the sounds of flashing cameras — there was a distinct lack of commotion.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Ray’s most chaotic photograms—jumbles that push out of the frame or look like time bombs ready to explode—find echoes in his films, projected on the back walls, a show in themselves.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
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In jumbles of old stones that, to me, are barely legible as the remains of buildings, Cocon López could see the entire timeline of old Aké and how later people interacted with and repurposed what came before.—
Lizzie Wade,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Who could possibly top the diary of havoc written in Santa Clara?—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
18 Oct. 2025
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There, the Brewers’ havoc seemed to start.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This movie doesn’t wallow in predictability.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
11 Oct. 2025
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Reeves is a cranky, deadpanning Estragon, wallowing in frustration as his gangly limbs swing, unwillingly turning to his friend but also welcoming the help, the hugs.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Cornell would arrive at the scene of these disturbances in a suit and tie, carrying a bag containing notepads, tape recorders, cameras and, on occasion, other, homemade instruments.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
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The works, which were still under video surveillance, sat unopened all weekend, with no unusual disturbances recorded.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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To open the big anniversary show, McEntire performed a decade-spanning medley, saluting one Song of the Year winner from each of the past six decades.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
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More than half are nurses, and the rest are a medley of employees who each occupy a special niche in the hospital.—
Elizabeth B. Kim,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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So Nix killed the play, checked into a run, and chaos ensued.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
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What begins as slapstick chaos soon reveals a layered critique of vanity, authority and the pressures of appearances.—
Essie Assibu,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The doctor grunted, shuffled off.—
Sam Lipsyte,
New Yorker,
19 Oct. 2025
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Mazzulla could shuffle his starting five from game to game, too, based on matchups and other factors.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Welter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/welter. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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