TURMOIL Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

turmoil

noun

ˈtər-ˌmȯi(-ə)l

Definition of turmoil

as in unrest

a disturbed or uneasy state was in turmoil most of the night, trying to convince himself he had made the right decision

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in commotion

a state of noisy, confused activity avoided the turmoil of the mall during the holiday season

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 turmoil Now, the company is hoping to move on from the turmoil with a new name — Veritant — and a promise to conduct annual audits of its wealth adviser rankings. — Benjamin Mullin, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty Images Memory chip stocks have taken a particularly bad beating this week amid broader equity market turmoil. — Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026 Domestic drilling has put more of the supply-demand balance under US control, but canâ€™t shield American consumers from global price turmoil. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026 Officials stressed that the shortages were caused by domestic distribution problems rather than a lack of fuel supplies or turmoil in global energy markets. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for turmoil

Recent Examples of Synonyms for turmoil

Noun

The island, known for its luxury beach resorts, last experienced similar unrest in 1999, when the death of a popular musician in police custody sparked days of rioting.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Israel and Western countries then boycotted its government, fueling months of unrest and fighting that led to the Hamas takeover of Gaza the next year.

— Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of unrest

Noun

Election experts have said many instances of noncitizens registering to vote are a result of administrative error or confusion on the part of the immigrant — not intentional criminality.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
The confusion unfolded as a steady stream of women’s half-marathon runners crossed the finish line.

— Vivian Yao, Baltimore Sun, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of confusion

Noun

And in an unrelated incident on the morning of June 9, 2026, Jackson was arrested after Los Angeles police responded to a domestic disturbance call at his West Hills home late the previous night.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Jacobs was arrested May 26, three days after police officers came to his Wisconsin home to investigate a disturbance.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturbance

Noun

Lulingu, a Grauer’s gorilla who was reintroduced to Virunga National Park in eastern Congo, is raising a baby after a successful birth, bringing excitement for the conservationists working there.

— Elodie Toto, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Michael Platt, a professor of marketing, psychology and neuroscience at the Wharton School, says the answer may lie in how the brain responds to risk, excitement and the promise of a big win.

— Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of excitement

Noun

That's especially prevalent in the Oversized Graphic T-Shirt with enigmatic dates on the back -- those are already causing a stir in the fan community.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
The Grammy winner’s online feud with Art of Play has caused quite a stir on the internet over the past few days.

— Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of stir

Noun

Their presence has fueled social tensions in Ceuta and become a political issue across Spain, where opposition parties hope to use migration concerns to unseat the progressive government in next month's elections.

— JOSEPH WILSON, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Despite seeking international support and launching a new military offensive, Saudi Arabia faces a conflict with no clear endgame, as fragmented allies and unresolved regional tensions make a lasting solution hard to achieve.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of tension

Noun

Don’t worry, the breakdown starts in a hurry and Cardellini is terrifying, if perhaps not as sympathetic as the series requires long-term.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
Jahkeem Stewart played after being listed as a game-time decision on the injury report and recorded a quarterback hurry.

— Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of hurry

Browse Nearby Words

turkeys

turmoil

turmoils

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“Turmoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turmoil. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of turmoil

noun

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