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
- turbulently adverb
- unturbulent adjective
- unturbulently adverb
Etymology
Origin of turbulent
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin turbulentus “restless,” from turb(a) “turmoil” + -ulentus -ulent
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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.
It may recount turbulent times in history—but not retrospectively.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
The show’s 10th season, which is currently airing, documented their increasingly turbulent partnership.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026
U.S. special operations forces have devised plans for seizing the nuclear weapons, facilities, and materials of many hostile or turbulent countries.
From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026
Sales at U.S. retailers bounced back in February after a brief weak spell, suggesting the economy is still expanding at a decent pace despite a turbulent start to the new year.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
Minutes passed like hours before he finally recognized himself as the source of the turbulent roar that was overwhelming him.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
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.
