tempestuous

USAGE SUMMARY

"tempestuous" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe a turbulent situation, event, or period of weather. For example, "The tempestuous wind made it a difficult day to go sailing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The vanguard for this push is embodied by Pumphouse Point – a much talked about converted hydro facility on Lake St Clair that is catering to wilderness visitors who don't want to shiver in a tent amid the region's tempestuous weather.

The Guardian - Travel

The Bulls' relegation to the Championship means the Rhinos will now head for the tempestuous and fiery Jungle to face a Tigers side with two wins on the spin and renewed optimism once again.

The Guardian - Sport

Jennifer Hudson won an Oscar for her support slot as his tempestuous star turn.

The Guardian - Film

The Chile side features many of the players who came third at the 2007 Under-20 World Cup and impressed in South Africa in 2010; they are particularly eager to win this match in light of a tempestuous encounter between the teams in a so-called friendly in the United States in August, when Ecuador won 3-0.

The Guardian - Sport

Jeremy Gilbert, a brilliant thinker and quite tempestuous man, co-wrote Reclaiming Modernity (with Mark Fisher) and launched it in Committee Room 10 last November.

The Guardian

Following three tempestuous performances in Juliette Binoche's Antigone, Kristin Scott Thomas's Electra, and Helen McCrory's Medea, London is set to continue its current flush of ancient Greek tragedy as the Almeida announces its 2015 season.

The Guardian

An early muse was the actor Li Tobler, with whom Giger had a tempestuous relationship.

The Guardian - Film

It also features his wife, Consuelo, of whom no film record was thought to exist, and with whom he had a tempestuous relationship, during a reportedly difficult time in their marriage.

The Guardian

Economists set themselves too easy, too useless a task if in tempestuous seasons they can only tell us that when the storm is past the ocean is flat again".

The Economist

Her talks with the tempestuous president, Mikheil Saakashvili, were preceded by a long public meeting with Georgian women, some of whom have publicly and loudly criticised him.

The Economist

Try as it would to stand solid after its founders, the tempestuous Charles and Maurice Saatchi, flounced out at the start of 1995, Cordiant could not repair the cracks left by their slapdash corporate castle-building in the 1980s.It is an amicable split by the blood-drenched standards of the company's history.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tempestuous" to vividly describe situations, emotions, or weather that are characterized by strong turbulence and intensity. For example, a "tempestuous" debate or a "tempestuous" relationship.

Common error

Avoid using "tempestuous" when a simpler adjective like "stormy" or "turbulent" would suffice. "Tempestuous" carries a weight of intensity and should be reserved for situations where that level of drama is appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "tempestuous" primarily functions as a descriptive modifier, adding detail about the noun it qualifies. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it vividly portrays situations, emotions, or weather marked by strong turbulence and intensity. The examples highlight its descriptive capacity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tempestuous" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed adjective, as validated by Ludwig AI. It serves to describe situations, emotions, or weather characterized by significant turbulence and intensity. Predominantly found in neutral contexts like news media, its effective usage demands careful consideration to avoid overuse in simpler scenarios. Related terms such as "stormy" and "turbulent" offer alternative ways to convey similar meanings, while avoiding redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

turbulent

Refers to a state of disturbance or disorder, often associated with strong emotions or chaotic situations.

stormy

Implies a violent disturbance, either literally with weather or figuratively with emotions or events.

tumultuous

Suggests a loud, confused, and disorderly state, often involving large numbers of people.

violent

Emphasizes the use of physical force or intense energy, implying potential harm or destruction.

furious

Highlights extreme anger or rage, often leading to uncontrolled behavior or events.

passionate

Indicates strong emotions and intense enthusiasm, which can sometimes lead to volatile situations.

volatile

Describes something that is likely to change rapidly and unpredictably, often in a negative or dangerous way.

wild

Suggests a lack of restraint or control, often implying excitement or danger.

unruly

Implies a lack of discipline and resistance to authority or control.

intense

Highlights the extreme degree of something, whether it is emotion, activity, or experience.

FAQs

How can I use "tempestuous" in a sentence?

You can use "tempestuous" to describe a turbulent situation, such as "a "tempestuous relationship"" or "tempestuous times", implying a period of great upheaval or strong emotions.

What are some synonyms for "tempestuous"?

Some synonyms for "tempestuous" include "stormy", "turbulent", "tumultuous", and "furious". Each carries a slightly different nuance of intensity and disruption.

Is it correct to use "tempestuous" to describe a person?

Yes, "tempestuous" can be used to describe a person's character or behavior, suggesting they are prone to outbursts of emotion or are generally turbulent in nature. For example, "a tempestuous personality".

What is the difference between "tempestuous" and "turbulent"?

"Tempestuous" and "turbulent" both describe states of disturbance, but "tempestuous" often implies a higher degree of emotional intensity and chaos, whereas "turbulent" can refer to more general instability or disorder.