1
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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2
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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3
as in bleak
marked by wet and windy conditions
expect turbulent weather as the cold front brings rain and sleet
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4
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of turbulent
The Philadelphia Phillies' turbulent bullpen was a major storyline this season, and left-hander José Alvarado played a major role in the drama.
—
Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
On the edge of seventy, Xuela is reflecting on her turbulent life.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
It’s been a turbulent few months for Roldan for all the best reasons.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
The Nintendo Switch era has been turbulent for the franchise, to put it mildly.
—Ryan Gaur, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turbulent
Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
On the edge of seventy, Xuela is reflecting on her turbulent life.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
It’s been a turbulent few months for Roldan for all the best reasons.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2025
The Nintendo Switch era has been turbulent for the franchise, to put it mildly.
—Ryan Gaur, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turbulent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turbulent
Adjective
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Once again, the debate in the book is not over whether or not people should be violent.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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As a result, many legends are connected to its violent past, and its dungeon, in particular, is said to be haunted by tortured souls.—
Sophie Friedman,
AFAR Media,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The advanced energy management system elevates the ride experience, allowing users to push boundaries with confidence—whether tackling steep hills, rough paths, or long-distance adventures.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
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Even so, rough surf and rip currents could spread along the US East Coast next week.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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These are bleak times, and as fans continue to mourn the club’s decline, West Ham’s hierarchy have shifted their focus to the January transfer window.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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As with many of Burton's best films, the real magic is the nuggets of human profundity hidden within the bleak imagery and whimsical comedy.—
Chris Snellgrove,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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His tenure as mayor was during a tumultuous time, as debates over diversity, equity and inclusion drew national attention.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Oct. 2025
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Central to this tumultuous state of affairs was the irruption of graffiti that took the city by surprise starting sometime in the late 1960s as new products like spray-paint and permanent markers were made easily available.—
Antonio Sergio Bessa,
Curbed,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Andrew Garfield leads the feature that is now in production, portraying the leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Oct. 2025
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While there are plenty of realistic iterations featuring ferocious teeth and claws, there are also a wide variety of friendly figurines and plushies.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The shocking circumstances of this clip may seem too wild to be real, and in this case, that's true.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
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And the public gets some wild movies and TV shows that would otherwise never get made, doing crazy-stupid stuff like recreating Napoleonic-era sea battles off the coast of the Galapagos.—
John Lopez,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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On a gray and rainy Sunday morning in October, the Russell Farms in Noblesville was resplendent in color with a wide variety of gourds and pumpkins in just about every shade of orange, yellow, green, white, blue.—
Kelly Wilkinson,
IndyStar,
23 Oct. 2025
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The Kom legend of the exploding lake during the rainy season comes to mind.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Children’s Health Defense, the organization Kennedy built into one of the fiercest foes of childhood vaccines, took interest in the Idaho bill early on.—
Audrey Dutton,
ProPublica,
20 Oct. 2025
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Two-time All Pro linebacker James Harrison led a fierce Pittsburgh Steelers defense for years, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2008.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turbulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turbulent. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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