TEMPESTUOUS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does tempestuous mean? 

• TEMPESTUOUS (adjective)
  The adjective TEMPESTUOUS has 2 senses:

1. characterized by violent emotions or behavior

2. (of the elements) as if showing violent anger

  Familiarity information: TEMPESTUOUS used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TEMPESTUOUS (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Characterized by violent emotions or behavior

Synonyms:

stormy; tempestuous

Context example:

a stormy marriage

Similar:

unpeaceful (not peaceful)

Derivation:

tempest (a violent commotion or disturbance)

tempestuousness (a state of agitation or turbulent change or development)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(of the elements) as if showing violent anger

Synonyms:

angry; furious; raging; tempestuous; wild

Context example:

the raging sea

Similar:

stormy ((especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion)

Derivation:

tempest ((literary) a violent wind)

tempestuousness (a state of wild storminess)

 Context examples 

“Canst thou?” cried the Abbot, in a high, tempestuous tone.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was a wild, tempestuous night, towards the close of November.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The early days of our Solar System were a tempestuous time.

(Exiled Asteroid Discovered in Outer Reaches of Solar System, ESO)

His first wooing had been of the tempestuous order, and he looked back upon it as if through a long vista of years with a feeling of compassion blended with regret.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

At last, however, on a wild, tempestuous evening, when the wind screamed and rattled against the windows, he returned from his last expedition, and having removed his disguise he sat before the fire and laughed heartily in his silent inward fashion.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

One forlorn fragment of dollanity had belonged to Jo and, having led a tempestuous life, was left a wreck in the rag bag, from which dreary poorhouse it was rescued by Beth and taken to her refuge.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Therefore I blessed this Mr. Overton whoever he might be, since he had come with his enigmatic message to break that dangerous calm which brought more peril to my friend than all the storms of his tempestuous life.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)