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
Scientists are scratching their heads over what drives these powerful tempests.
—
Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
The force of the collision pushed up mountains three miles high; millions of years of tempests wore them down.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2024
Expansive rain from powerful Hurricane Helene left people stranded, without shelter and awaiting rescue Saturday as the cleanup began from a tempest that killed at least 64 people, caused widespread destruction across the U.S. Southeast and left millions without power.
—Stephen Smith, arkansasonline.com, 29 Sep. 2024
Research led by University of Michigan planetary scientist Cheng Li discovered a commonplace culprit behind Saturn’s tempests: water.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tempest 
Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
The force of the collision pushed up mountains three miles high; millions of years of tempests wore them down.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 24 Nov. 2024
Expansive rain from powerful Hurricane Helene left people stranded, without shelter and awaiting rescue Saturday as the cleanup began from a tempest that killed at least 64 people, caused widespread destruction across the U.S. Southeast and left millions without power.
—Stephen Smith, arkansasonline.com, 29 Sep. 2024
Research led by University of Michigan planetary scientist Cheng Li discovered a commonplace culprit behind Saturn’s tempests: water.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tempest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempest
Noun
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Trump this month proposed the US taking ownership of Gaza and moving Palestinians out of the devastated strip permanently, triggering a storm of protest.—
Jennifer Hansler,
CNN,
16 Feb. 2025
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In fact, tremendous stellar wind currents from several stars can collide to cause a perfect cosmic storm, resulting in complete celestial chaos!—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The annual Conservative Political Action Conference is mere days away, with this year’s event starting a few weeks after President Donald Trump’s inauguration and ensuing massive upheaval of the U.S. government.—
Asher Notheis,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
17 Feb. 2025
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Both countries are also locked in political upheavals that stand to slow any responses.—
BYJason Ma,
Fortune,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Rapid reductions in visibility and brief heavier snowfall rates possible within the heavier squalls.—
Natalie Venegas,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
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The Cape and Rhode Island, however, will still see squalls this hour.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Signs of unrest at Mount Spurr -- located in the Aleutian Arc in southern Alaska about 75 miles west of Anchorage -- have increased over the past 10 months, according to volcanologists at the U.S. Geological Survey.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2025
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Shah’s abdication led to the 1979 revolution The Islamic Revolution began with widespread unrest in Iran over the rule of the shah who, terminally and secretly ill with cancer, fled Iran in January 1979.—
Nasser Karimi,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Congress should press the brakes on the revolution that has given Mark Zuckerberg and other tech titans an outsized role in raising our kids and require that users of social media be age 18 or older.—
Rich Lowry,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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In the same fashion, the free university, historically the fountainhead of free ideas and scientific discovery, has experienced a revolution in the conduct of research.—
Kristan Hawkins,
Newsweek,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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What To Know The powerful earthquake hit the Caribbean, north of Honduras and southwest of the Cayman Islands, at around 6:23 p.m. local time on Saturday.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
9 Feb. 2025
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Additional information collected about the earthquake may also prompt U.S.G.S. scientists to update the shake-severity map.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near tempest
Cite this Entry
“Tempest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempest. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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