Meaning

Any plant which habitually breaks away from its roots once dry, forming a light, rolling mass which is driven by the wind from place to place; as Russian thistle, wild indigo, witch grass, Amaranthus albus, etc..

Definitions by Sense

1. Any plant which habitually breaks away from its roots once dry, forming a light, rolling mass which is driven by the wind from place to place; as Russian thistle, wild indigo, witch grass, Amaranthus albus, etc.
2. (attributive) Describing unwanted silence and inactivity. Often used of a situation when one makes a statement that is ignored or ill-received by one's audience, as the resultant silence is likened to that of a desolate desert with rolling tumbleweeds.
3. A tan colour, like that of a tumbleweed.

Example Sentences

Putting an ad in the local paper that Spock's Beard and Arena are in town will get you a tumbleweed response and some wasted revenue.

“Why do families argue?” may only induce the tumbleweed response. (Could you answer that question out of the blue?)

Word Forms

• tumbleweeds

Synonyms for tumbleweed

Related Words

When Should You Use Tumbleweed?

Use tumbleweed when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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