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🌪️ A confused mass 🌊 To roll chaotically 😵 To be overwhelmed
to welter

to welter

8.9
To move or be tossed about in rough water
  • verb
  • /ˈwɛltər/
translation icon : revolotear
  • No wind crossed the water, and we weltered becalmed in the lower Chesapeake.

Examples

  • After falling into the mud, he weltered helplessly as he tried to stand up.

  • As the storm raged, the boat weltered against the churning waves.

  • The fish weltered in the turbulent water, struggling against the current.

Synonyms

to swirl
vsto welter
120 2.7

To move in a twisting or circular way

refers to circular twisting motion rather than chaotic rolling or being moved about
to toss
vsto welter
94 1.4

To move about in a violent or restless way

describes chaotic rolling and being moved about especially in soft or watery settings
to churn
vsto welter
51 4.8

To move violently or feel upset and restless inside

emphasizes chaotic rolling or being moved about especially in soft surroundings
to slosh
vsto welter
22 3.7

To move liquid so it splashes or to walk through water making splashing sounds

describes noisy splashing or walking through water rather than chaotic rolling
to roil
vsto welter
18 8.5

To make water or other liquid move strongly and become cloudy

describes moving or being moved rather than focusing on causing turbulence
to slosh around
vsto welter
3 5.9

To make liquid move and spill around inside a container

focuses on clumsy spilling and splashing rather than turbulent rolling motion
roiling
vsto welter
1 7.6

A liquid moving fast and making rough waves

is used for being moved about chaotically often in soft or watery surroundings
churning
vsto welter
4.9

Water that moves in strong, swirling ways

focuses on chaotic rolling rather than solely swirling motion
to swash
vsto welter
7.6

To move or splash with force and noise

emphasizes forceful noisy splashing rather than chaotic rolling or being moved about
to wamble
vsto welter
  • Archaic
9.9

To move unsteadily while rolling from side to side

describes milder unsteady weaving rather than intense chaotic movement in liquid
to wabble
vsto welter
8.9

To move unsteadily from side to side

shows slight side to side unsteadiness rather than heavy chaotic rolling or turbulence

Antonyms

to stabilize
  • US
75 4.3

To become steady and stop changing

Compounds

welter of emotions
7.8

A confusing mix of strong feelings

welter of information
8.4

A large confusing mix of facts or details that is hard to understand

How Turbulent

to flail
38 5.8
to welter
8.9
to toss
94 1.4
to roll
∞ 1.0
to bob
24 2.7

Surface Forms

welter infinitive
weltered past
weltered past participle
weltering present participle
welters third person singular

Etymology

Welter comes from an old word like welt- meaning 'to roll' or 'toss', which gives the image of objects being thrown and turned in rough water. So to welter can mean to move or be tossed about in a chaotic, rolling way.