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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tempest
Now one of the smaller crafts in the civilian fleet was trapped in the tempest: a sleek 57-foot sailboat called the Zaida.
—
David Wolman, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2025
As countries and tech giants jockey for position, the geopolitical tempest that ensues may overshadow the transformative potential of the technology.
—Reva Goujon, Foreign Affairs, 27 Dec. 2024
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
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.—
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Many parts of Tennessee and Kentucky are projected to receive 4-8 inches of rain from the storm.—
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.—
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Both countries are also locked in political upheavals that stand to slow any responses.—
Noun
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Rapid reductions in visibility and brief heavier snowfall rates possible within the heavier squalls.—
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The Cape and Rhode Island, however, will still see squalls this hour.—
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.—
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As villages rise-up against British rule, protagonist Yusuf drifts between his rural home and the restless energy of Jerusalem, longing for a future beyond the growing unrest.—
Noun
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The fusion of blockchain, AI and decentralized governance models is already disrupting some industries, and those who embrace these changes could be at the forefront of the digital revolution.—
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Syria and Libya are very different countries, but Libya, too, experienced an Arab Spring revolution that pitted multiple armed groups against a longtime dictator.—
Noun
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Reports of earthquake felt away from source (red star) on February 14, 2025.—
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This belief stems from their rare appearances near the surface or washing ashore often coinciding with natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis.—
Cite this Entry
“Tempest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempest. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
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