What does "tempestuous" mean?
Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a tempest; also, of a place: frequently experiencing tempests; (very) stormy.
Tempestuous
/tɛmˈpɛs.tjʊ.əs/ adj
adj ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a tempest; also, of a place: frequently experiencing tempests; (very) stormy.
- Grammar: tempestuous is listed as adj.
- Nearest alternatives: stormy, anarchic, angry, angry.
- Useful contrasts: temperate, calm, clear.
- Usage evidence: Tatoeba is just Twitter for language nerds. I eagerly await tempestuous floods of snarky hashtags in every sentence.
How to use "tempestuous"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "tempestuous" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "tempestuous" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "tempestuous" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "tempestuous" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "tempestuous" is acting as adj in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "stormy" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "tempestuous", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a tempest; also, of a place: frequently experiencing tempests; (very) stormy.
"I wyl aduertise you that this Boke is named the Shyp of foles of the worlde: For this worlde is nought els but a tempestous se in the whiche we dayly wander and are caste in dyuers tribulacions paynes and aduersitees: some by ignoraunce and some by wilfulnes: wherfore such doers ar worthy to be called foles."
- 2 Characterized by disorderly, frenetic, or violent activity; stormy, tumultuous, turbulent; also, of a person, their behaviour or nature, etc.: characterized by bouts of bad temper or sudden changes of mood; impetuous, stormy, temperamental. figuratively
"After their tempestuous argument, they did not speak to each other for weeks."
Adjective
- 1 (of the elements) as if showing violent anger wordnet
- 2 characterized by violent emotions or behavior wordnet
Example
"Tatoeba is just Twitter for language nerds. I eagerly await tempestuous floods of snarky hashtags in every sentence."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "tempestuous"?
Common synonyms include: stormy, anarchic, angry, angry, blustering, blusterous.
How do you use "tempestuous" in a sentence?
Tatoeba is just Twitter for language nerds. I eagerly await tempestuous floods of snarky hashtags in every sentence.
How do you pronounce "tempestuous"?
Pronounced /tɛmˈpɛs.tjʊ.əs/.
Etymology
From Late Middle English tempestious, tempestous, tempestuous (“stormy, turbulent, tempestuous”), from Anglo-Norman tempestous, and Old French tempesteus, tempestos, tempestous, tempestuose (modern French tempétueux), and directly from its etymon Latin tempestuōsus (“stormy, turbulent, tempestuous; impetuous”), from tempestās, tempestūs (“point or period of time; season; weather, specifically bad weather; storm, tempest”) (from tempus (“period of time; (rare) weather”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *temh₁- (“to cut”) or *ten- (“to extend, stretch”)) + -ōsus (suffix meaning ‘full of; overly; prone to’ forming adjectives from nouns). The English word is equivalent to tempest + -uous (a variant of -ous (suffix forming adjectives from nouns, denoting the presence of a quality, typically in abundance)).