1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
the surprise verdict of the jury created a wild williwaw as reporters rushed to file their stories
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gust
a sudden brief rush of wind
a williwaw rose up seemingly out of nowhere and wreaked havoc with our campsite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of williwaw
The williwaw, a gale-force wind that came rolling down the mountain gathering speed, was depicted as a whorled cloud.
—
Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2022
The dominant use of williwaw throughout the 19th century was in relation to storms around Cape Horn, including the Straits of Magellan.
—David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022
The williwaw gusts swirled thick fog among transport ships off Attu Island, and the waiting infantrymen nervously mulled the name of their landing site: Massacre Bay.
—Alex Horton, Washington Post, 24 May 2018
Nancy Lord, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Sep. 2022
The dominant use of williwaw throughout the 19th century was in relation to storms around Cape Horn, including the Straits of Magellan.
—David Reamer, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Sep. 2022
The williwaw gusts swirled thick fog among transport ships off Attu Island, and the waiting infantrymen nervously mulled the name of their landing site: Massacre Bay.
—Alex Horton, Washington Post, 24 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for williwaw
Noun
-
The reveal of the dire wolves and accompanying news on red wolf advances lead to plenty of commotion and news coverage.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
8 Apr. 2025
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In the backdrop, a commotion of voices from distraught aid workers and soldiers shouting commands in Hebrew can be heard.—
Farnaz Fassihi,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The storms are anticipated to bring wind gusts of up to 60 mph and penny-sized hail (0.75 inches).—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2025
-
As Jake was jumping on the trampoline, a sudden and heavy gust of wind elevated him and the trampoline 20 feet in the air, according to the report.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Anderson left the crime scene following the disturbance.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
7 Apr. 2025
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Some types of plants, such as those with long tap roots, are more sensitive to root disturbance and transplant shock.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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That’s a major blow to both sales and long-term customer loyalty.—
Samuel Mueller,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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His ruling, stopping the TPS revocation while the lawsuit plays out in his court, was a blow to the Trump administration.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The news, which surfaced late last week when letters to these vendors from Chief Procurement Officer Sharla Roberts were shared with the media, caused an immediate stir and prompted some aldermen to publicly advise contractors not to comply with the request.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2025
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Fans of this show based on a treatment by the legendary Bruce Lee caused enough of a stir that it was eventually renewed for Max exclusively, airing a third season on the streaming service.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Not to mention, a one-piece will make getting ready for your graduation an absolute breeze.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Glamour,
27 Mar. 2025
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The smooth porcelain interior heats up evenly and is a breeze to clean.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Possessions from some of those who were on the Titanic, some likely abandoned in a hurry, can also be seen on the 3D model.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
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If the Twins don’t get their act together in a hurry, those 10 remaining games against the White Sox might not mean much.—
Aaron Gleeman,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Winners that scud through the court from all directions.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
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Their optimism regarding the possible Iranian retaliation would be based on the history of Israeli resilience in the face of Iraq's scud attacks in 1991, and Hamas' and Hezbollah's rocket strikes.—
Dmitry Adamsky,
Foreign Affairs,
20 Feb. 2011
Cite this Entry
“Williwaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/williwaw. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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