Tumultuous
Word of the Day
What is Tumultuous?
Adjective
Characterized by disorder, chaos, or intense disturbance.
Pronunciation
Why This Word?
Chosen for April 22, 2025 due to political and economic unrest in the U.S., including financial market volatility and legal tensions.
Examples of Use
Here's how this word appears in everyday language:
The country faced a tumultuous election year.
Their relationship was passionate but tumultuous.
He emerged stronger after a tumultuous childhood.
Word Origins
From Latin "tumultus" meaning "uproar, disturbance"
Originally used to describe violent storms or political uprisings. Later adopted in emotional or symbolic contexts.
First appearance in English: Late 16th century
Word Family
Related forms of this word:
-
Noun:
The room erupted in a sudden tumult of shouting voices.
-
Adverb:
The crowd moved tumultuously through the streets.
Related Words
Words with Similar Meanings
- chaotic
- turbulent
- stormy
Words with Opposite Meanings
- calm
- orderly
- peaceful
Around the World
How this word appears in other languages:
- Spanish: tumultuoso
- French: tumultueux
- German: stürmisch
- Mandarin: 动荡的
If you Already Know This Word
If you've mastered this word, try these more advanced alternatives:
tempestuous
More poetic, implies emotional storms
cataclysmic
More extreme, used for disasters
maelstrom
Metaphorical for a swirling mass of confusion
Fun Facts
- Shakespeare used “tumultuous” in plays before it became common in dictionaries.
- Both “tumultuous” and “tumor” come from the Latin root “tumere,” meaning “to swell.”
- “Tumultuous” is a phonosemantic word – it sounds chaotic, just like its meaning.
Cultural Usage
- Martin Luther King Jr. used the word “tumultuous” in his “I Have a Dream” speech to describe the “tumultuous sea of civil rights struggle.”
- Hillary Clinton used “tumultuous” to describe the 2016 election in her book What Happened.
- Kendrick Lamar described his creative process as “tumultuous” in interviews promoting To Pimp a Butterfly.
Common Mistakes
Confused with “noisy” or “energetic”, but “tumultuous” has a deeper, often negative tone.
Micro Story
She held the flag high in the tumultuous crowd, uncertain whether the march would lead to peace—or chaos.