turbulent

[tur-byuh-luhnt]

adjective

1. being in a state of agitation or tumult; disturbed.

   turbulent feelings or emotions.

   Synonyms: disordered, tempestuous, violent, tumultuous, agitated

2. characterized by, or showing disturbance, disorder, etc..

   the turbulent years.

3. given to acts of violence and aggression.

   the turbulent young soldiers.

turbulent

/ ˈtɜːbjʊlənt /

adjective

1. being in a state of turbulence

2. wild or insubordinate; unruly

Other Word Forms

• turbulently adverb
• unturbulent adjective
• unturbulently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of turbulent¹

First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin turbulentus “restless,” from turb(a) “turmoil” + -ulentus -ulent

Word History and Origins

Origin of turbulent¹

C16: from Latin turbulentus , from turba confusion

Example Sentences

A resurgence in travel demand in recent weeks should carry through the fourth quarter of this year, marking a turnaround from a turbulent start to 2025.

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It was also a turbulent time - the Tate's collection tracks the nation's journey from a British colony, to a fledging, independent country, to the setting of a grisly civil war.

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The former New York Times opinion staff editor and founder of the media upstart Free Press heads into a turbulent and challenged TV news environment.

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Sunderland's return to the Premier League has rekindled memories of a revelatory television series documenting the club's turbulent 1996-97 campaign.

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She faces many challenges including uniting a struggling ruling party after a turbulent few years which saw it rocked by scandals and internal conflicts.

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Related Words

• bitter 
• bumpy 
• choppy 
• fierce 
• rough 
• stormy 
• swirling www.thesaurus.com
• tempestuous 
• unstable 
• violent