Meaning

A general confusion or muddle, especially of a large number of items..

Definitions by Sense

1. A general confusion or muddle, especially of a large number of items.
2. A tossing or rolling about.
3. (intransitive) To roll around; to wallow.
4. (intransitive, figurative) To revel, luxuriate.
5. (intransitive, of waves, billows) To rise and fall, to tumble over, to roll.
6. Heavyweight. (of horsemen)
7. To wither; to wilt.

Example Sentences

He would, except for his guests, have fled outdoors and walked off the intoxication of food, but in the haze which filled the room they sat forever, talking, talking, while he agonized, “Darn fool to be eating all this—not ’nother mouthful,” and discovered that he was again tasting the sickly welter of melted ice cream on his plate.

And in truth, his mind was such a welter of opposites—of the night and the blazing candles, of the shabby poet and the great Queen, of silent fields and the clatter of serving men—that he could see nothing; or only a hand.

Most of these allegations have already been published; she has denied them all. […] With the welter of claims and counter-claims and evidence that has been contradictory and based on hearsay, it is unlikely that the Truth Commission will come to any significant conclusion.

They use these words to express a welter of opinions on what they think is good or bad, right or wrong, and all too readily wail ‘It's not fair!’.

[…] were it not for shame, Shame and dishonour to a soldier’s name, Upon my weapon’s point here shouldst thou fall, And welter in thy gore.

I had no horse, and the deep and wheeling stream of the river, rendered turbid by the late tumult of which its channel had been the scene, and seeming yet more so under the doubtful influence of an imperfect moonlight, had no inviting influence for a pedestrian by no means accustomed to wade rivers, and who had lately seen horsemen weltering, in this dangerous passage, up to the very saddle laps.

And behind, the tempest fleet Hurries on with lightning feet, Riving sail, and cord, and plank, Till the ship has almost drank Death from the o’er-brimming deep; And sinks down, down, like that sleep When the dreamer seems to be Weltering through eternity;

You must request their advice how to avert this tremendous evil: you must weep over the decrepid fathers of families, the virtuous wives, the innocent children, the priests at the altar, with God in their mouths, weltering in their blood.

Word Forms

• welters
• weltering
• weltered

Synonyms for welter

Related Words

When Should You Use Welter?

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

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