tumultuous

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "tumultuous" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or event that is chaotic or marked by a lot of commotion or disruption. Example Sentence: The meeting quickly became tumultuous as the board members began to argue about the proposed budget cuts.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The union had been saved after a tumultuous end to the referendum campaign, which had seen billions wiped off the share prices of Scottish companies in the wake of a YouGov poll on 7 September giving the Yes side a narrow lead.

The Guardian

Students at Oxford University will this week vote on a controversial motion to boycott Israel, after a tumultuous week that has seen hate mail, accusations of racism and a furious exit from a debate by MP George Galloway.

The Guardian

She was a child model star who was on the catwalk for Armani at 13 and became well known for her tumultuous relationship with a soccer star.

The Guardian

After a challenging and tumultuous period of unprecedented controversies, it may now be time for the ICC to reconsider its role as well.

The Guardian

Calls are mounting in Ukraine to put Yanukovych on trial after a tumultuous presidency in which he amassed powers, enriched his allies and cracked down on demonstrators.

The Guardian

Organisers said the protest's high turnout reflected the exasperation felt among many people after the general election result – Labour had promised to ban indefinite detention – but also follows a particularly tumultuous month for a facility plagued by damaging allegations since it opened in 2001.

The Guardian

The Co-operative Group's chief executive, Richard Pennycook, declared last week that Britain's biggest mutual had come through the worst as it returned to profit after a tumultuous two years.

The Guardian - Business

The author's, and the protagonist's, concern for the needs of the individual was vulnerable against the novel's tumultuous events and the Soviet censor.

The Guardian - Books

Held at the high-security Korydallos prison in Athens, the trial was originally postponed on technical grounds after a tumultuous beginning on 20 April.

The Guardian

It was painted on 1 November 1888, an important and tumultuous year for the artist that included his Sunflower paintings and the famous ear incident.

The Guardian - Arts

After the tumultuous movement in Scotland's politics last year, Curtice's rolling poll of polls has since been displaying what he describes as "a series of horizontal lines".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tumultuous" when you want to convey not only noise and disorder, but also a sense of underlying unrest or potential for significant change.

Common error

Avoid using "tumultuous" for minor disagreements or slight disturbances. It is more fitting for situations involving significant upheaval, chaos, or intense emotional or political turmoil.

Linguistic Context

The word "tumultuous" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something as noisy, disorderly, or causing tumult. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and usable. Examples in Ludwig show its use in describing "tumultuous times" or "tumultuous events".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tumultuous" is a descriptive adjective used to convey chaos, disturbance, and strong emotions, as indicated by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and commonly found in news and formal business contexts. While versatile, it's important to reserve its use for situations that genuinely involve significant upheaval. Alternatives like "turbulent", "chaotic", and "stormy" can offer nuanced variations in meaning. As the Ludwig examples demonstrate, "tumultuous" aptly captures the intensity and disorder of events, periods, or even relationships.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

turbulent

Emphasizes instability and agitation, similar to a storm at sea.

chaotic

Highlights the complete disorder and lack of structure.

stormy

Suggests a period filled with conflict and strong emotions.

disorderly

Focuses on the lack of order and control.

agitated

Implies a state of restlessness and anxiety.

tempestuous

Describes something marked by strong and conflicting emotions.

violent

Highlights the aggressive and destructive aspects of the disturbance.

convulsed

Indicates a sudden and violent disturbance or agitation.

unruly

Emphasizes the difficulty in controlling or managing something.

unstable

Indicates a lack of stability and a proneness to change or collapse.

FAQs

How can I use "tumultuous" in a sentence?

Use "tumultuous" to describe situations or events characterized by chaos, disturbance, or strong emotions. For example, "The nation experienced a "tumultuous period" after the election."

What words are similar to "tumultuous"?

Alternatives to "tumultuous" include "turbulent", "chaotic", and "stormy", each carrying slightly different connotations of unrest and disorder.

Which is correct, "tumultuous" or "tumultous"?

"Tumultuous" is the correct spelling. "Tumultous" is a misspelling and should be avoided.

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

While both words describe disorder, "tumultuous" often implies a noisier, more chaotic environment, whereas "turbulent" can suggest a more internal or underlying instability.