different between tumultuous vs impetuous

English

Etymology

From Old French tumultuous (modern French tumultueux), from Latin tumultu?sus (“restless, turbulent”), from tumultus (“disturbance, uproar, violent commotion, tumult; agitation, disturbance, excitement”) + -?sus (suffix meaning ‘full of, prone to’ forming adjectives from nouns).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /tj??m?l.tj?.?s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /tu?m?l.t?u.?s/, /t?-/
• Hyphenation: tu?mult?u?ous

Adjective

tumultuous (comparative more tumultuous, superlative most tumultuous)

1. Characterized by loud, confused noise. [from mid 16th c.]

   Synonyms: noisy, uproarious, see also Thesaurus:noisy
2. Causing or characterized by tumult; chaotic, disorderly, turbulent. [from mid 16th c.]

   Synonyms: riotous, tempestuous, tumultuary, see also Thesaurus:disorderly

Antonyms

• untumultuous
• (characterized by loud, confused noise): see Thesaurus:quiet
• (causing or characterized by tumult): see Thesaurus:calm

Derived terms

• tumultuously
• tumultuousness
• untumultuous

Related terms

Translations

References

Further reading

• tumultuous (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

English

Etymology

From Middle English impetuous, from Old French impetueux, from Late Latin impetu?sus (“violent”), from Latin impetus (“attack, violence”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /im?p?t?u?s/

Adjective

impetuous (comparative more impetuous, superlative most impetuous)

1. Making arbitrary decisions, especially in an impulsive and forceful manner.
   • 1880, John Weeks Moore, Complete Encyclopaedia of Music, "Beethoven, Louis Van":

     But it was natural, that the impetuous, restless young artist should incline more to excess of strength than of delicacy in his playing.

2. Characterized by sudden violence or vehemence.
   • 1794, Ann Radcliffe, The Mysteries of Udolpho, vol. II, chapter I:

     He stands, and views in the faint rays
     Far, far below, the torrent's rising surge,
     And listens to the wild impetuous roar

   • 1917 rev. 1925, Ezra Pound, "Canto I"

     Unsheathed the narrow sword,

     I sat to keep off the impetuous impotent dead ...

Synonyms

• impulsive
• hasty
• rash
• hotheaded

Derived terms

• impetuously
• impetuousness

Translations