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
Relevance
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
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 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 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 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
-
The commotion has come as a surprise to Cooke, who didn’t foresee her role as such a divisive one.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The child’s father had arrived home shortly before the incident occurred and heard a commotion in the bedroom, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by KSAT.—
TJ Macias,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Sustained, strong winds with even stronger gusts are happening.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
On Lake Michigan's shoreline, waves were forecast to reach up to 6 feet on Saturday because of wind gusts up to 30 mph.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Jung and Pauli’s hyper-intellectualization of everyday phenomena leaves out a fundamental component of the synchronicity—a deep emotional disturbance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The disturbance has no chance of forming over the next 48 hours and a low 30% chance of forming over the next seven days, the hurricane center said.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The 1987 stock market crash was a further blow to the small company and an additional strain on its finances.—
Cameron Kaiser,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
-
And the latest in the long line of big-name boxers to come to blows will be Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford who fight against one another on Saturday.—
Ben Morse,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The apples do release some juices, so give it a good stir before serving.—
Jasmine Smith,
Southern Living,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Some argue for the need to rescind a public holiday, as Denmark did in 2023; the current French Prime Minister, François Bayrou, is causing a stir by trying to remove two from the calendar year.—
Alex Ledsom,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Building a Lodge arsenal in your kitchen all at once can cost a pretty penny, but thankfully Amazon just marked down a number of cast-iron pieces to stock up on best-sellers and make your everyday cooking a breeze.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
-
In a breeze, the solar lights sway softly, flickering like fireflies.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Someone in a hurry could skim the key points, while others could dive into detailed FAQs and links to studies.—
Kristine Johnson,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
In addition to his pass coverage, which includes a pair of pass breakups, Scott also has three tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Winners that scud through the court from all directions.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Williwaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/williwaw. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share