as in upheaval
a state of violence, confusion, and disorder
There was much turbulence in their town after a string of tragedies.
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Recent Examples of turbulence
Now, 10 years to the day after the Brexit vote and with six prime ministers having been felled by economic and political turbulence, the country once again looks to a new leader — and back to the crucible that helped set it on this torrid journey.
—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
23 June 2026
Social Security has faced a financial shortfall before, when in the early 1980s its trust funds were on the brink of insolvency due to economic turbulence over the previous decade.
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Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Kennedy drew a comparison to passengers experiencing turbulence on a plane.
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Sarah Jackson,
CNBC,
21 June 2026
The central image was an airliner, something that, like life itself, experiences highs, lows and turbulence.
—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for turbulence
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
23 June 2026
Social Security has faced a financial shortfall before, when in the early 1980s its trust funds were on the brink of insolvency due to economic turbulence over the previous decade.
—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Kennedy drew a comparison to passengers experiencing turbulence on a plane.
—
Sarah Jackson,
CNBC,
21 June 2026
The central image was an airliner, something that, like life itself, experiences highs, lows and turbulence.
—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for turbulence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turbulence
Noun
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The federal government accelerated efforts to subdue resistance, bringing years of hardship and upheaval for Native Americans.
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The two respond to the upheaval in different ways, one embracing a new lease on life, the other feeling unmoored and disoriented.
Noun
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Then about a week later, the son responded to a commotion outside their home and found Spencer hitting his mother in the head with a brick, according to officials.
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Seeing the commotion, Louis and Paul came galloping back.
Noun
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And just as the rental market of humanoid robots shows signs of cooling and the initial excitement wanes, concerns of an industry bubble have risen.
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Cunningham, 63, can remember the fanfare and excitement around the bicentennial in 1976.
Noun
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Golt could not say what the disturbance was about.
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However, in the eastern Pacific basin, a pair of tropical disturbances are being watched for possible development in the next several days far from land.
Noun
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The earthquakes have compounded problems created by years of economic and political strife, particularly for the overwhelmed healthcare system.
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The program was created by Congress in 1990 to prevent deportations to countries suffering from natural disasters, civil strife and other instability.
Noun
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The crowd trouble began hours before the July 2024 match.
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For his trouble, he’s escorted out of the neighborhood in his shiny Sting Ray by a foursome of menacing dirtbikes.
Noun
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Mercury stations retrograde in Cancer in your 11th House of Friends and Community, bringing old invitations, group-chat confusion, or unclear expectations back into focus.
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In it, the author described a culture of confusion, stress, and incompetence, as contractors competed for work to be completed under near-impossible deadlines.
Noun
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The landlocked mineral-rich nation is facing one of its deepest political crises in decades as economic turmoil, nationwide protests and a battle over the country’s future threaten to reshape the balance of power in South America.
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Political turmoil intensifies as resignations, Russia’s rising threat and pressure from a skeptical United States leave Britain’s next leader to prove the plan can truly safeguard Europe.
Cite this Entry
“Turbulence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turbulence. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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