Synonyms

turmoil

American

[tur-moil] / ˈtɜr mɔɪl /

noun

a state of great commotion, confusion, or disturbance; tumult; agitation; disquiet.

mental turmoil caused by difficult decisions.

Synonyms:

uproar, disorder, turbulence

Antonyms:

quiet, order
Obsolete. hard labor; toil.

turmoil British

/ ˈtɜːmɔɪl /

noun

violent or confused movement; agitation; tumult

"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

verb

archaic to make or become turbulent

"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

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.

Here are some of the stocks and investments that rose above the turmoil to outperform the broader market at the start of the year:

From The Wall Street Journal

A separate source said that local Reform branches "were in turmoil".

From BBC

The rest of us can only speculate about his inner turmoil.

From The Wall Street Journal

At the time, the US was in turmoil.

From BBC

The scramble comes after many businesses in the Gulf dropped war-risk cover in recent years to reduce their premiums, brokers said, trusting the region’s reputation as a haven from political turmoil.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023