1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
the surprise verdict of the jury created a wild williwaw as reporters rushed to file their stories
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gust
a sudden brief rush of wind
a williwaw rose up seemingly out of nowhere and wreaked havoc with our campsite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of williwaw
The williwaw, a gale-force wind that came rolling down the mountain gathering speed, was depicted as a whorled cloud.
—
Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2022
The dominant use of williwaw throughout the 19th century was in relation to storms around Cape Horn, including the Straits of Magellan.
—David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022
The williwaw gusts swirled thick fog among transport ships off Attu Island, and the waiting infantrymen nervously mulled the name of their landing site: Massacre Bay.
—Alex Horton, Washington Post, 24 May 2018
Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2022
The dominant use of williwaw throughout the 19th century was in relation to storms around Cape Horn, including the Straits of Magellan.
—David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022
The williwaw gusts swirled thick fog among transport ships off Attu Island, and the waiting infantrymen nervously mulled the name of their landing site: Massacre Bay.
—Alex Horton, Washington Post, 24 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for williwaw
Noun
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Later, during a briefing from Zelia Baugh, executive vice-president of behavior health at John Peter Smith Hospital, a commotion could be heard in the lobby outside the court.—
Cody Copeland,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Jan. 2025
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Gregory hears the commotion and tries to keep the Philly girls from pouncing.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In one, five women in white hanbok, carrying bundles of white laundry on their heads, form a tight, diagonal spiral (in response to gusts of wind?) against dark fields of grass and cropland.—
E. Tammy Kim,
The New Yorker,
18 Jan. 2025
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The National Weather Service said that the chance for moderate winds, with gusts of up to 50 mph, will rise to 50% on Monday and 60% on Tuesday, with a 10% chance of strong winds up to 70 mph on both days.—
Minyvonne Burke,
NBC News,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Menopause is a natural phase of life that brings unique health challenges, from hot flashes and sleep disturbances to hormonal shifts and long-term health considerations.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Flow Space,
24 Jan. 2025
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Decongestants, such as nasal sprays or irrigators, may also effectively reduce congestion that drives sleep disturbances.—
Angelica Bottaro,
Verywell Health,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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These tariffs could be a huge blow to the U.S. economy, as economists say tariffs are often passed along to end consumers in the form of higher prices.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
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Trump also signed an order signaling his intent to weaken tailpipe emission standards, which would be a major blow to the environment.—
Andrew J. Hawkins,
The Verge,
21 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The erroneous emergency alert caused a stir in all parts of Los Angeles.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2025
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Concerns over beachgoers reserving spaces with the use of portable cabanas are causing a stir in Australia.—
Ashley J. DiMella Fox News,
Fox News,
7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The wind mode, however, adjusts to the breeze and neutralizes the crackle.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
14 Jan. 2025
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Yet, a rare recent cold snap has seen residents of the kingdom’s capital throwing on extra layers and enjoying the cool winter breeze.—
Jay Ganglani,
CNN,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Grant gets off the ball in a hurry and finds a healthy balance between playing laterally and downhill.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Jan. 2025
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Keep their necessities together, in a spot where they can be reached in a hurry.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Their optimism regarding the possible Iranian retaliation would be based on the history of Israeli resilience in the face of Iraq's scud attacks in 1991, and Hamas' and Hezbollah's rocket strikes.—
Dmitry Adamsky,
Foreign Affairs,
20 Feb. 2011
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In low, clear water when trout are spooky, a bait presented on a dry fly or scud hook will drift more naturally with the current and that can mean the difference between a take and a pass.—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
7 Mar. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near williwaw
Cite this Entry
“Williwaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/williwaw. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
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