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welter Definition

wel·ter (wel′tər)

intransitive verb

    1. to roll about or wallow, as a pig does in mud
    2. to be deeply involved to welter in work
  2. to be soaked, stained, or bathed to welter in blood
  3. to tumble and toss about: said as of the sea

Etymology: ME weltren < MDu welteren, freq. formation akin to OE wealtan, to roll, boil up: for IE base see well

noun

  1. a tossing and tumbling, as of waves
  2. a confusion; turmoil

welter Synonyms

welter

n.

commotion, uproar, turmoil; see disturbance 2.

welter Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • information: The evening is similar the wealth of personal narratives simply subside into a welter of information.
  • statistic: In the face of this welter of depressing statistics, any hope of improvement might seem misplaced.
  • emotion: This dreadful disease produced a welter of emotions in the medieval mind.
  • material: Shows crucial omissions in content, or meaning has disappeared in a welter of irrelevant material.
  • detail: Essential concerns are lost in a welter of detail.
  • word: Where revolutions do not act, they are submerged in a welter of words.

Converse of object

  • produce: Any mention of charging for services produces a welter of panicked messages.
  • see: In recent days we have seen a welter of forecasts ranging from the reassuring to the pessimistic.