tu·mul·tu·ous (to͝o-mŭl′cho͞o-əs, tyo͝o-) adj. 1. Very loud; noisy: tumultuous applause. 2. Characterized by disorderly commotion: the tumultuous years of the 1960s. 3. Characterized by mental or emotional agitation: a tumultuous love affair. tu·mul′tu·ous·ly adv. tu·mul′tu·ous·ness n. American Heritage® Dictionary of the English ...