tumultuous

Tumultuous is an adjective describing a state or period of great confusion, disorder, or emotional agitation. It is commonly used to characterize events, environments, or relationships that are marked by upheaval, unrest, and intense activity. In social or political contexts, a tumultuous era may include rapid change, protests, and conflict; in personal language, a tumultuous relationship or time denotes instability and emotional volatility.

Origin and sense: The word derives from Latin tumultuosus, meaning full of noise or uproar, from tumultus, uproar or commotion. The sense broadened in English to cover upheaval both outward (crowds, events) and inward (feelings).

Usage and examples: Tumultuous often modifies nouns such as period, career, relationship, crowd, sea, or history. It conveys a sense of disorder and emotional intensity more than mere movement. For example, a tumultuous decade may involve economic crisis and political upheaval; a tumultuous relationship may include frequent conflicts and reconciliation; a tumultuous crowd can become unruly.

See also: Related terms include turbulent, chaotic, stormy, and volatile. While tumultuous and turbulent are sometimes used interchangeably, tumultuous emphasizes upheaval and emotional intensity, whereas turbulent stresses dynamic movement and instability in a more physical or fluid sense.