turbulent

1 marked by bursts of destructive force or intense activity <the turbulent struggle for civil rights that shook up American society in the 1960s> Synonyms bang-bang, blood-and-guts, convulsive, cyclonic, explosive, ferocious, fierce, furious, hammer-and-tongs, hot, knock-down, drag-out (or knock-down-and-drag-out), paroxysmal, rabid, rough, stormy, tempestuous, tumultuous, violent, volcanicRelated Words barbarous, brutal, savage, vicious; antagonistic, hostile; aggressive, assertive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, contentious, gladiatorial, pugnacious, quarrelsome, truculent; combustible, volatile; agitated, frantic, frenzied, mad; cataclysmal (or cataclysmic), destructive, ruinousNear Antonyms calm, halcyon, pacific, serene, tranquil; nonbelligerent, unaggressiveAntonyms nonviolent, peaceable, peaceful

2 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> Synonyms rough, rugged, stormy, tempestuous, tumultuous, wildRelated Words blustering, blustery, raging, violent; brutal, harsh, severe; roily, unquiet, unsettled; bleak, inclement, nasty, raw, squallyNear Antonyms calm, halcyon, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, tranquil; bright, clear, clement, cloudless, fair, sunny, sunshiny, unclouded

3 marked by wet and windy conditions <expect turbulent weather as the cold front brings rain and sleet> Synonyms bleak, dirty, inclement, nasty, raw, rough, squally, stormy, tempestuous, foulRelated Words blowy, blustering, blustery, breezy, gusty, windblown, windswept; cloudy, overcast, sunless; rainy, snowy; foggy, hazy, misty, murky, soupyNear Antonyms rainless; balmy, calm, halcyon, peaceful, placid, pleasant, sereneAntonyms bright, clear, clement, cloudless, fair, sunny, sunshiny, unclouded

4 marked by sudden or violent disturbance <these are turbulent, dangerous times in a region known for being a powder keg> Synonyms cataclysmal (or cataclysmic), stormy, tempestuous, tumultuous, convulsiveRelated Words fitful, spasmodic, sporadic; boisterous, clamorous, furious, noisy, riotousNear Antonyms calm, peaceful, placid, serene, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, unshaken, untroubled