turbulent
Americanadjective
-
being in a state of agitation or tumult; disturbed.
turbulent feelings or emotions.
- Synonyms:
- disordered, tempestuous, violent, tumultuous, agitated
-
characterized by, or showing disturbance, disorder, etc..
the turbulent years.
-
given to acts of violence and aggression.
the turbulent young soldiers.
adjective
-
being in a state of turbulence
-
wild or insubordinate; unruly
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of turbulent
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin turbulentus “restless,” from turb(a) “turmoil” + -ulentus -ulent
Compare meaning
How does turbulent compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Turbulent means chaotic, disordered, characterized by conflict. A time of war is a turbulent time for a country. If your family moves and your parents get divorced, you might call that a turbulent period in your history. This adjective also commonly describes unstable or violent movement in the atmosphere, or in oceans and rivers. When the pilot comes announces turbulent air or turbulence ahead, get ready for the plane to bump and shake. Turbulence has another specialized sense when describing an uneven flow of a liquid or gas.
Vocabulary lists containing turbulent
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 16–19
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"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary
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This Week in Words: October 13 – 20, 2018
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Knicks have drawn on their turbulent history to project an image of resilience -- similar to how New Yorkers like to see themselves.
From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026
As the 58-year-old reaches the end of his 17th and final season in charge, one of his most treasured memories comes from that turbulent time.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
Fund closures force investors out of their positions—potentially triggering capital-gains taxes and possibly leading them to find replacement exposure, often during turbulent markets.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026
As climate change alters wind patterns and ocean behavior, the forces acting on these systems may also affect how energy moves through turbulent flows.
From Science Daily • Jun. 3, 2026
Not only did they have to deal with the turbulent explosions, but they also had to try to stay in formation behind their leader as everyone’s planes were buffeted about in the angry sky.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
