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
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.
Liverpool won the Premier League title in 2024/25 under Arne Slot but the Dutchman was sacked in May after a turbulent season.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
The marriage, which produced two children, proved turbulent and profoundly unfulfilling.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
The Louisiana lawmaker’s decision puts Blanche’s turbulent nomination process back on course.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
The findings offer new clues about the turbulent motions responsible for producing Earth's magnetic field.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 7, 2026
His boat was moving toward it, and it rose to a turbulent roar.
From "Abel's Island" by William Steig
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.
