TURBULENT Synonyms: 112 Similar and Opposite Words

turbulent

adjective

ˈtər-byə-lənt

Definition of turbulent

as in violent

marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity the turbulent struggle for civil rights that shook up American society in the 1960s

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in rough

marked by turmoil or disturbance especially of natural elements the turbulent rapids of the river were certainly daunting to those of us who were new to river rafting

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bleak

marked by wet and windy conditions expect turbulent weather as the cold front brings rain and sleet

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in tumultuous

marked by sudden or violent disturbance these are turbulent, dangerous times in a region known for being a powder keg

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of turbulent Her decision to remain comes amid a turbulent moment for the district. — Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026 The feeling may not be mutual with the 28-year-old fresh off a disappointing and turbulent season. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026 While introducing his new film, Gilroy praised the festival’s lineup as a bright spot amid an increasingly turbulent Hollywood landscape. — Antonio Ferme, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026 Given today's turbulent prices, don't read too much into MSRPs for products like graphics cards in 2026. — Michael Justin Allen Sexton, PC Magazine, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for turbulent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for turbulent

Adjective

That, in turn, reveals a family history of violent gravitational instability caused by events like giant collisions and planetary ejections.

— Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026
The show, which can certainly be tense, spends more time on being funny than violent.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of violent

Adjective

The Dallas Cowboys are bringing former NFL coach Mike Pettine out of retirement to serve as a senior assistant to defensive coordinator Christian Parker, whose debut in his new position is off to a rough start.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
The Tampa Bay Rays are staring down a rough start to the American League Championship Series.

— OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of rough

Adjective

Unlike Gregor Samsa who is confined to his room after transforming into a huge insect, the protagonist still has to go to work, a dark and bleak absurdity that lays bare the alienation, isolation, and hypocrisy of modern life.

— Deadline, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Providing a faint ray of hope in this otherwise bleak start to life, the five baby orangutans have been settling into their new surroundings in Odisha at the Nandankanan Zoo.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of bleak

Adjective

Jan Mulkens, a physicist, joined the company during this tumultuous period.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Ippolito plays Sylvester Stallone in Peter Farrelly’s movie, which follows the tumultuous production of the 1976 boxing film that won three Oscars, including best picture.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of tumultuous

Adjective

After the initial blast, which spews out gamma rays, a storm of radiation pours into the surrounding galaxy, creating a ferocious afterglow that burns in every part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
The characters thrust and parry with ferocious wit in an upscale California desert setting that scenic designer Scott Pask generically satirizes as a category of social living.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of ferocious

Adjective

The study, led by researchers at the University of Nottingham and Tohoku University in Japan, examined wild Euhadra snails to understand the biological mechanisms behind this phenomenon, known as chirality.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
The leaves aren’t the only things wild with color this season.

— Ciarra Lorren Zatorski, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of wild

Adjective

Rowers pushed through a rainy and chilly start Friday morning while fans in ponchos and raincoats cheered them on.

— Anna Meiler, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
That would have marked the coolest day since early May if not for the rainy, windy and cool day former Hurricane Isaias created last Saturday.

— Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of rainy

Adjective

Only some regional operators have continued sporadic services, generally using smaller feeder vessels.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
That said, devolving tropical storms can pack a punch with sporadic gusts and showers as the energy that was formerly bundled in the storm’s center releases outward.

— Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of sporadic

Browse Nearby Words

turbulence

turbulent

turbulently

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Style

“Turbulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turbulent. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of turbulent

adjective

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