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
Example 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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Spears' teen pregnancy immediately caused commotion among her family and her team.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
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On a match day, the keenest supporters would gravitate to the main entrance halfway along, just after the dressing room windows where Ian Wright occasionally peered out and caused a commotion.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The storms may bring pea-sized hail (0.25 inches) and wind gusts of up to 50 mph.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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The weather service reported wind gusts of 25 to 35 mph with relative humidity at about 10%.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Minor disturbances, such as noise, movement or a slightly full bladder, can now easily interrupt sleep.—
Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2025
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On Monday, March 24, Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a call about a disturbance at a home on Barkers Crossing Avenue in Houston.—
KC Baker,
People.com,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The library now needs to build out the new Canadian entrance to code — a blow to a not-for-profit organization that has existed on a limited endowment since 1908.—
Cara Tabachnick,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2025
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New York City's drinking water could eventually absorb a blow if reservoirs supplying a portion of it become vacated due to rising salinity, according to a new report.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The news, which surfaced late last week when letters to these vendors from Chief Procurement Officer Sharla Roberts were shared with the media, caused an immediate stir and prompted some aldermen to publicly advise contractors not to comply with the request.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2025
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Fans of this show based on a treatment by the legendary Bruce Lee caused enough of a stir that it was eventually renewed for Max exclusively, airing a third season on the streaming service.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Not to mention, a one-piece will make getting ready for your graduation an absolute breeze.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Glamour,
27 Mar. 2025
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The smooth porcelain interior heats up evenly and is a breeze to clean.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Germany, a country that traditionally favors social spending over national defense and is almost immovable out of its comfort zone, now resembles a country in a hurry.—
Daniel DePetris,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2025
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European officials and observers have also warned the administration, in its hurry to reach a deal, is vulnerable to manipulation by Putin.—
Patrick Reevell,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Winners that scud through the court from all directions.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Williwaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/williwaw. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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