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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
As a collective, HQ Portfolio stocks delivered better returns with lower risk compared to the benchmark index; offering a less turbulent experience, as highlighted in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
—
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
Around the globe, some are celebrating and some are mourning the return of a president who was known by some as turbulent and unpredictable and others as a firm, dynamic leader.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
This showed that turbulent gas in the early universe triggers bouts of intense star formation in galaxies, birthing these galaxies' thick stellar disks.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 July 2025
The Twins’ pitching staff has endured a turbulent month of June, so much so that pitching coach Pete Maki called a meeting on Tuesday afternoon to address the group.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for turbulent
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
Around the globe, some are celebrating and some are mourning the return of a president who was known by some as turbulent and unpredictable and others as a firm, dynamic leader.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
This showed that turbulent gas in the early universe triggers bouts of intense star formation in galaxies, birthing these galaxies' thick stellar disks.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 July 2025
The Twins’ pitching staff has endured a turbulent month of June, so much so that pitching coach Pete Maki called a meeting on Tuesday afternoon to address the group.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for turbulent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turbulent
Adjective
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On June 25, Monroe officers used a drone to track down a violent offender who had fled into a wooded area, police said.—
Maia Nehme,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2025
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Before long, his life is plagued by a series of mysterious, sinister incidents that threaten to upend his success and bring about a most violent demise.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Most young kids who are just getting used to their animal friends tend to be a little rough with them at first.—
Marilyn La Jeunesse,
Parents,
9 July 2025
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While a canker sore is forming, that part of your mouth may also tingle, burn or feel rough.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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Some traders said the numbers were less severe than analysts' bleak forecasts.—
Sabrina Valle,
USA Today,
3 July 2025
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No one is as funny and as bleak in the same sentence, or maybe even the same word.—
Literary Hub
July 1,
Literary Hub,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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After untangling from a tumultuous relationship inside the major label system, the R&B singer couldn’t be more thrilled in her partnership with EMPIRE, as Claudio joined the indie powerhouse earlier in 2025.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
1 July 2025
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Very few players see their walk and strikeout rates vary so much year-to-year, which speaks to the tumultuous nature of his career to date.—
Daniel R. Epstein,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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The Manchester City striker is one of the global game’s most ferocious and intelligent goalscorers.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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Now, she’s added another competitive event to her list of favorites: F1, or Formula 1, largely considered the world's most ferocious and high-tech form of auto racing.—
Marco della Cava,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Fortune Feimster partnered with Johnsonville, the popular sausage brand, for a wild Fourth of July bash at Summerfest in Milwaukee.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
8 July 2025
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Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale accessory deals Some pretty wild things are going on over in the accessories department, where high-summer necessities like city bags and sleek sunglasses are up to 45% off.—
Jake Henry Smith,
Glamour,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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Between 2021 and 2024, Dr Chávez and collaborators conducted several surveys during both the rainy season (2021, 2023) and dry season (2023, 2024).—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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Mushrooms are common during the rainy season; remove them if children or pets are present. 63.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 June 2025
Adjective
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With so many players in the game, the competition is simultaneously fierce and toothless.—
Todd Fisher,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
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Winds, too, were fierce, gusting up to 70 mph at the lakefront, according to the National Weather Service.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turbulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turbulent. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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