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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 welter
Alfredo Sosa, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Nov. 2025
The welter of Globo international partnerships and deals confirmed on stage on Sunday at Cannes Carlton Hotel by Angela Colla, Globo Head of International Business and Co-productions, did much to suggest that for Globo the future is beginning again.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
Looming over the welter of domestic problems is typhoon Trump.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
But that story of rapid growth and incipient liberalization concealed a much more complicated picture: China’s economy consisted of a welter of different actors pursuing different, sometimes contradictory interests.
—Yeling Tan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2021
See All Example Sentences for welter
Noun
Petrochemical plants convert hydrocarbons into materials that go into a welter of consumer goods – from plastics, clothing, and beauty products to digital devices and detergents.
—Alfredo Sosa, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Nov. 2025
The welter of Globo international partnerships and deals confirmed on stage on Sunday at Cannes Carlton Hotel by Angela Colla, Globo Head of International Business and Co-productions, did much to suggest that for Globo the future is beginning again.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
Looming over the welter of domestic problems is typhoon Trump.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
But that story of rapid growth and incipient liberalization concealed a much more complicated picture: China’s economy consisted of a welter of different actors pursuing different, sometimes contradictory interests.
—Yeling Tan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2021
See All Example Sentences for welter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for welter
Noun
-
Linderbaum, a Pro Bowl selection in each of the past three seasons, signed a three-year, $81 million deal with the Raiders at the start of free agency, which added additional intrigue to the commotion surrounding Baltimore’s abandonment of the Crosby trade.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Could hear what sounded like gunshots or commotion.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While ground covers can boost the health and aesthetics of your yard, some varieties can wreak havoc on nearby plants, trees, and soil.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
1 May 2026
-
The other problem is this AI locomotive coming down the tracks, which is going to wreak havoc for workers.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The 40-foot-long internet phenomenon had been wallowing in shallow waters near Germany since March.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
2 May 2026
-
Most like to be clean, although wallowing in the mud does help keep them cool and protected from insects and the sun.—
Eric Adler
April 26,
Kansas City Star,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But, in historic gold-rush regions, prospectors use it to identify disturbances in the landscape that are suggestive of former mining operations, in the hope of finding overlooked stores.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Talks to purchase the animals began months before the April disturbance, and Simmons said her group wasn’t connected to the protests.—
David Fischer,
Fortune,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
This big-batch punch showcases muscadine wine and bourbon with a medley of fruit juices, grenadine, and club soda.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Food scraps, leaves and wood chips are some essentials that make up the compost medley needed to repair the soil.—
Kara Finnstrom,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Leo’s January 9 address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See focused on global chaos the Vatican saw as American-made.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
-
After all, the film is a straightforward parable about the attempt to reassert authority amid chaos.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
MotoGP also had to shuffle its schedule due to the conflict in the Middle East, postponing the Qatar Grand Prix to November.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
7 May 2026
-
But sometimes, simply shuffling the pieces can help, in our view.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Welter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/welter. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
