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
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
Hwang seems to be suggesting that a line can indeed be drawn from the cultural tempests – too easily dismissed as matters of political correctness – to the real-world tragedies and obscenities that send innocent men to jail and early graves.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tempest 
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
Hwang seems to be suggesting that a line can indeed be drawn from the cultural tempests – too easily dismissed as matters of political correctness – to the real-world tragedies and obscenities that send innocent men to jail and early graves.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for tempest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempest
Noun
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One account holds that the old Celtic cross was stolen, and then floated back to the island after a storm.—
Leslie Jamison,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Jan. 2025
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Freezing temperatures have kept parts of the South at a standstill after a winter storm.—
David Leonhardt,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Read: The GoFundMe fires In moments of tragedy or upheaval, not all Angelenos can take their freedom of mobility for granted, in part because of how Southern California infrastructure has developed over the past century.—
Hannah Giorgis,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2025
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Ten years later, the music industry would experience upheaval of its own, with the internet beginning its ascent as the primary source for music consumption, soon cratering sales of recorded music amidst the rise of online file sharing and streaming.—
Jim Ryan,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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From the cool surface of a frozen lake to the dizzying frenzy of a white-out squall, the dead of winter offers countless evocative and extreme conditions that conjure magic, channel heartbreak and push characters to their limits.—
Calum Marsh,
New York Times,
22 Jan. 2025
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Lake effect snow bands could create heavy snow squalls and the strong winds will lead to rapidly fluctuating visibilities with near whiteout conditions possible.—
Tanya Wildt,
Detroit Free Press,
13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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After a term marked by civil unrest, incompetence, moral and ethical failures, conspiracy theories, extremism, mismanaging COVID, and overseeing Republican losses in the House and the Senate, America was decidedly tired of Trump’s ineptitude and self-destructiveness.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
22 Jan. 2025
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But unlike when Trump helped spark a mob of his supporters to attack the Capitol and tried to retain power in 2021 after his loss to Democrat Joe Biden, officials are not expecting massive protests, unrest or violence.—
Will Weissert,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Author of 'Swarm Troopers: How small drones will conquer the world,' following cutting-edge military technology in general and the drone warfare revolution in particular.—
David Hambling,
Forbes,
24 Jan. 2025
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Yeh Hsin-wei, a student in Taipei, said Taiwan’s vast semiconductor industry that supplies many of the chips powering the global AI revolution was a better deterrent against Beijing.—
Eric Cheung,
CNN,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Berti also warned that aftershocks are common, and Idaho may feel additional earthquakes Monday or over the next few days.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Jan. 2025
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The most recent comparable earthquake in the area struck in 2012, when a 4.0 magnitude earthquake hit Hollis Center, Maine.—
Barbara A. Perry,
Newsweek,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near tempest
Cite this Entry
“Tempest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempest. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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