turbulent

[tur-byuh-luhnt]

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adjective

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.

Nearby words

Origin of turbulent

1530–40; < Latin turbulentus restless, equivalent to turb(a) turmoil + -ulentus -ulent

SYNONYMS FOR turbulent

1. agitated, tumultuous, violent, tempestuous, disordered.

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Related formstur·bu·lent·ly, adverbun·tur·bu·lent, adjectiveun·tur·bu·lent·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for turbulent

I wondered who else was making a mark in the field in these turbulent times.
The Real-Life Raiders of the Lost Ark|Alex Belth|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A group of them mentor the turbulent, desperate kids fresh off the streets who are at their most violent when they first arrive.
Here’s a Reform Even the Koch Brothers and George Soros Can Agree On|Tina Brown|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The turbulent waters caused one of his oars to crack, which—without a motor or a sail—can be severely detrimental to his voyage.
Victor Mooney’s Epic Adventure for His Dead Brother|Justin Jones|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There are no polls yet in the attorney general race, but in a turbulent year in Lone Star politics, anything could happen.
Texas’s Other Sam Houston|Ben Jacobs|May 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Each 6000kg sculpture is lowered to the seabed where it is drilled into the substrate to lessen the effects of turbulent weather.
Artist Jason deCaires Taylor’s Underwater Sculptures Are a Sight to Sea|Justin Jones|April 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is turbulent and muddy; hard to pass and masterful of mood: noisy and of brief continuance.
The Golden Sayings of Epictetus|Epictetus
No, his passions are turbulent—the madness of the moment—eager to please himself—regardless of the satisfaction of the object.
The Sylph, Volume I and II|Georgiana Cavendish
For they apprehended it to be a thing of a turbulent nature to mingle in a crowd as soon as they rose from bed.
Concord Days|A. Bronson Alcott
His was a turbulent, rakehelly, demented existence, the theme of many newspaper paragraphs.
Lord Chatham|Archibald Phillip Primrose Rosebery
She shut her teeth tightly, and pressed hard upon her turbulent bosom.
The Red Debt|Everett MacDonald

British Dictionary definitions for turbulent

turbulent

adjective

being in a state of turbulence

wild or insubordinate; unruly

Derived Formsturbulently, adverb

Word Origin for turbulent

C16: from Latin turbulentus, from turba confusion

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for turbulent

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.

turbulent

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of turbulent

Examples from the Web for turbulent

turbulent

adjective

Word Origin for turbulent

turbulent