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
Few players across Major League Baseball had more turbulent seasons than José Castillo.
—
Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
But Jeffries’s and Pelosi’s working relationship was scrutinized during the turbulent time when Democrats en masse were calling on former President Joe Biden to retire.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
Made in collaboration with songwriter and producer Brent Anderson, as well as musicians and songwriters from across Nashville, the album unpacks the turbulent fluctuations of a relationship.
—Sophia Arndt, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
With those turbulent waters somewhat behind us, the ones under the ship claim another victim, and poor Britani runs off to throw up over the side of the boat.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turbulent
Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2025
But Jeffries’s and Pelosi’s working relationship was scrutinized during the turbulent time when Democrats en masse were calling on former President Joe Biden to retire.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
Made in collaboration with songwriter and producer Brent Anderson, as well as musicians and songwriters from across Nashville, the album unpacks the turbulent fluctuations of a relationship.
—Sophia Arndt, Twin Cities, 5 Nov. 2025
With those turbulent waters somewhat behind us, the ones under the ship claim another victim, and poor Britani runs off to throw up over the side of the boat.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for turbulent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turbulent
Adjective
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Rising number of violent incidents, 911 calls But reducing the inmate population did not solve the problem with drugs and violence.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
5 Nov. 2025
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After Maggie and Paul were shot to death on June 7, 2021, Alex was found guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, earning two consecutive life sentences without possibility of parole.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Other government notices mentioned the size and rough location of the construction.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Yams tend to be white fleshed with a rough, brown exterior.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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When everything looks bleak, a woman holds it up victoriously.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
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New York — US stocks closed lower Thursday as concerns mounted about expensive tech stocks, and a risk-off sentiment spread through markets after new data showed a bleak outlook for the job market.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The decline from the prior vote follows a tumultuous stretch for Musk and Tesla.—
Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
11 Nov. 2025
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The outing comes towards the end of a tumultuous year for the royals.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Just a big ferocious ball of meat, claws, and teeth.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
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Though the storm did not make a direct hit on Haiti, its ferocious rains caused rivers to flood and jump their banks.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Seek out wild places and remember that your body is not made to be hacked or optimized but to connect you to the earth beneath your feet.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
11 Nov. 2025
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What’s even wilder, even more mind-blowing about this barrage of bricks?—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The Amazon Unlike Brazil’s major cities, where the action ramps up in summer, the Amazon starts to quiet down in large part because of the arrival of the rainy season, which is at its peak from December to March.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Nov. 2025
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While spring is the most popular climbing season, as weather is favorable on tall peaks, hundreds of foreign climbers come to climb smaller peaks during the autumn, between the rainy monsoon months and winter.—
Manish Paudel,
NBC news,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Because, well, our relationship was always so sporadic.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
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Despite sporadic staff shortages at air traffic control facilities across the country since the shutdown began, flight operations have been largely normal.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Turbulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turbulent. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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