turbulent
[tur-byuh-luhnt]
- being in a state of agitation or tumult; disturbed: turbulent feelings or emotions.
- characterized by, or showing disturbance, disorder, etc.: the turbulent years.
- given to acts of violence and aggression: the turbulent young soldiers.
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Origin of turbulent
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
stormyfierceviolentunstabletempestuousbumpyroughchoppybitterchaoticrowdyquarrelsomelawlessraucousunrulyagitatedblusteryboilingcoarseconfusedExamples from the Web for turbulent
Contemporary Examples
I wondered who else was making a mark in the field in these turbulent times.
A group of them mentor the turbulent, desperate kids fresh off the streets who are at their most violent when they first arrive.
The turbulent waters caused one of his oars to crack, which—without a motor or a sail—can be severely detrimental to his voyage.
There are no polls yet in the attorney general race, but in a turbulent year in Lone Star politics, anything could happen.
Each 6000kg sculpture is lowered to the seabed where it is drilled into the substrate to lessen the effects of turbulent weather.
Historical Examples
Every one, even in a turbulent, ill-disciplined life, should do the same.
De ProfundisOscar Wilde
Confused and turbulent as Tiverton had become, Nicholas Oldfield settled her at once.
Tiverton TalesAlice Brown
The events of that day dropped out of my mind in the turbulent weeks that followed.
The HarborErnest Poole
We sell the thrones of angels for a short and turbulent pleasure.
Essays, First SeriesRalph Waldo Emerson
This bred high tempers, turbulent manners and contempt for the weak.
Blood and IronJohn Hubert Greusel
turbulent
- being in a state of turbulence
- wild or insubordinate; unruly
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin turbulentus, from turba confusion
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for turbulent
adj.
1530s, "disorderly, tumultuous, unruly" (of persons), from Middle French turbulent (12c.), from Latin turbulentus "full of commotion, restless," from turba "turmoil, crowd" (see turbid). In reference to weather, attested from 1570s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper