Words / C2

tyoo-MULCH-oo-uh-s/tjuːˈmʌltʃuəs/

Tumultuous means noisy, chaotic, or violently changing: a tumultuous year, tumultuous applause. Tumult is the noun. Turbulent is a close cousin (also of fluids); rowdy is everyday. Tremendous is huge — a lookalike. Do not call a quiet landslide vote tumultuous unless the street was.

Meaning

Full of noise, confusion, or violent change.

Examples

• “A tumultuous year of strikes left the timetable in pieces.”
• “A tumultuous term of strikes left every room double-booked.”
• “Tumultuous applause is loud praise; a turbulent market is the economics cousin.”

Good to know

Noisy, chaotic, upheaved. Noun: tumult. Close: turbulent. Everyday: rowdy. Mix-up: tremendous (huge).

Near in meaning

turbulent

New