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