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
Advertisement With the tempest expected to hit on Dec. 1 that year, LAFD commanders ordered up at least 40 extra fire engines for stations closest to the areas where the fire hazards were greatest, including the Palisades, The Times has learned through interviews and internal department records.
—
Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for tempest
Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for tempest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tempest
Noun
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Such a proliferation of storms is rare but not unprecedented, NASA noted, with meteorologists attributing the display in part to warm sea surface temperatures and weak wind shear conditions.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
-
The best time to do this is after a storm, as pieces of amber are dislodged from the sea bed by rough waters.—
Stephan Rabimov,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Social Security Administration leadership upheaval The Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, is not a federal department.—
Lorie Konish,
CNBC,
1 Mar. 2025
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But, this season has been dominated by injuries and roster upheaval.—
Corey Masisak,
The Denver Post,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Regions around the Great Lakes, especially, could see cold winds and snow showers and squalls Monday night through Tuesday morning.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA TODAY,
27 Jan. 2025
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Jade Jackson Snow showers have arrived in Central Indiana and are expected to remain through 8 p.m. Snow squalls are expected with Indianapolis being heavily impacted.—
Jade Jackson,
The Indianapolis Star,
11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Pro-Palestinian sentiments still run strong among the peoples of the region, and history has proven how civil unrest can quickly lead to instability even in nominally stable nations.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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Political tensions rise over resource allocation, with social unrest more frequent.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The film follows Dormer as Dr. Audrey Evans, who is fighting her own revolution amidst the resistance to the Vietnam War in 1960s Philadelphia.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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Saint-Domingue would launch its own revolution for independence less than a decade later, in part inspired by the Americans’ victory.—
Danielle Amir Jackson,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Six years of negative economic growth fueled by the succession of crises, mismanagement of the economy and disasters that have left the country even more broken than the powerful 2010 earthquake are all to blame.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2025
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For example, Armenia's early years of independence were marked by tragedies like the Gyumri earthquake and the Artsakh conflict, which fostered dependence on outside economic aid.—
Bree Carriglio,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tempest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tempest. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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