turmoil
Americannoun
-
a state of great commotion, confusion, or disturbance; tumult; agitation; disquiet.
mental turmoil caused by difficult decisions.
- Synonyms:
- uproar, disorder, turbulence
-
Obsolete. hard labor; toil.
noun
verb
Related Words
See agitation.
Etymology
Origin of turmoil
First recorded in 1520–30; originally as verb: “to agitate”; etymology uncertain; perhaps tur(n) + moil
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.
In Asia, a round of inflation data from China and economies in Southeast Asia will be scrutinized for signs of stress caused by the energy market turmoil.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Given the market volatility sparked by the U.S. attack on Iran, Vanguard Wellington may be just what investors need to ride out the turmoil.
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
The private-equity industry’s fundraising slump continued in the first quarter amid turmoil in the private-credit and software markets and uncertainty over the war in Iran.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
A separate source said that local Reform branches "were in turmoil".
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
She would never know what scenes were driving this turmoil.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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.
