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
During this turbulent summer in their lives, their grandmother invites them to her home in the Outer Banks, North Carolina’s barrier islands where wild horses roam free.
—
Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
For Philadelphia, the deal concludes months of drama following a turbulent year for Brown and the Eagles.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 1 June 2026
The decades after the turbulent ’30s and ’40s brought the hotel significant growth.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
The election is widely viewed as a verdict on the turbulent presidency of Gustavo Petro, who came to power in 2022, and on the future direction of Colombia’s political and economic model.
—Sebastian Jimenez, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for turbulent
Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
For Philadelphia, the deal concludes months of drama following a turbulent year for Brown and the Eagles.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 1 June 2026
The decades after the turbulent ’30s and ’40s brought the hotel significant growth.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026
The election is widely viewed as a verdict on the turbulent presidency of Gustavo Petro, who came to power in 2022, and on the future direction of Colombia’s political and economic model.
—Sebastian Jimenez, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for turbulent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turbulent
Adjective
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Dinah Voyles Pulver, a national correspondent for USA TODAY, writes about violent weather, the environment, climate change and other news.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
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His drawling, winking charm is front and center, and his attraction to our heroine feels both genuine and even quite protective, but his violent streak is so blasé as to be unnerving.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
7 June 2026
Adjective
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After a night that featured 38 foul calls and a gritty Connecticut team determined to make a statement in Atlanta, the Dream clinched a 91-74 win over the Sun in a back-and-forth matchup that started rough but ended on a high note in their first Commissioner’s Cup game.—
Micahya Costen,
AJC.com,
3 June 2026
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The comps were particularly rough that season, as the NYC-OKC skirmish was no match for what would prove to be Michael Jordan’s final championship in Chicago.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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This year, though, is things are looking bleak.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
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Charli and preeminent pop divas Olivia Rodrigo and Ariana Grande are releasing some of the bleakest music of their careers just in time for summer, the traditional season for party anthems and celebratory bangers.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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With this in mind, researchers ran some simulations to explore how all that jostling for position might have affected the moons of Jupiter and Uranus in particular — and the results suggest that these two planets' moons only survived that tumultuous time because of a giant planet that didn't.—
Kiona N. Smith,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
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College hockey already is negotiating a tumultuous era.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Fires ravaged the ballpark’s left-field bleachers in May 1926, and a tornado’s ferocious winds tore through additional sections of seats that July, and ownership could not afford to renovate.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
3 June 2026
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Noisy, ebullient, ferocious and free, Dance!—
SPIN Staff,
SPIN,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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From branches above her is released a sudden shower of ash keys, which flutter downwards, whirring in circles, until their wild flight is put to a stop by meeting the water’s surface, where they are apprehended and whisked away downstream.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
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Keeping in that spirit, small inn-like touches, including breakfast and common spaces (with a pool deck to come in 2025), make this a welcome new gathering place for the area sandwiched between the center of town’s climbing roses and some of the island’s most popular, wild beaches.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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December to March is technically rainy season but storms typically happen once per day.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
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That number is 196,000 barrels a day lower than the comparable week last year, as cool and rainy weather may have dampened fuel sales, particularly in the Northeast.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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In recent years, however, enforcement was sporadic, allowing vendors selling food, souvenirs and other goods to operate near Millennium Park.—
Laura Rodríguez Presa,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
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Many of Myanmar’s resource-rich areas, where most mining operations have been largely unregulated, are controlled by different armed militias engaged in sporadic fighting against the central government to seek greater autonomy.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turbulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turbulent. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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