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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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
Her departure marks the end of a four-year tenure that began during one of the most turbulent periods in the department’s history.
—
Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
The rival superpowers entered the summit divided over thorny issues including Taiwan, trade disputes and the Iran war, though both Washington and Beijing have sought to prioritize stability in bilateral relations after a turbulent start to Trump’s second term.
—Katherine Doyle, NBC news, 14 May 2026
The rollout comes at a turbulent moment in the bilateral relationship.
—Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Our measurements also showed that once Trionda enters the higher-speed, turbulent-flow regime, its drag coefficients are somewhat larger than those of Brazuca, Telstar 18 and Al Rihla.
—John Eric Goff, The Conversation, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for turbulent
Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
The rival superpowers entered the summit divided over thorny issues including Taiwan, trade disputes and the Iran war, though both Washington and Beijing have sought to prioritize stability in bilateral relations after a turbulent start to Trump’s second term.
—Katherine Doyle, NBC news, 14 May 2026
The rollout comes at a turbulent moment in the bilateral relationship.
—Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 14 May 2026
Our measurements also showed that once Trionda enters the higher-speed, turbulent-flow regime, its drag coefficients are somewhat larger than those of Brazuca, Telstar 18 and Al Rihla.
—John Eric Goff, The Conversation, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for turbulent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turbulent
Adjective
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When Ahmed suggested that this was a bad idea, since Denise was the one who had been violent, Denise began cursing at him.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Some people argue that enforcement becomes necessary when encampments grow large or long-term, especially when safety concerns, sanitation issues, or violent incidents arise.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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In a region of rough roads, Chispa is among the roughest.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
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That is often billed as a finishing school for footballing talent, but graduates inevitably remain rough around the edges.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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In other words, the status quo of ed tech is bleak.—
Will Oremus,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
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Like its gruesome predecessors, his latest full-length work features adorably designed anthropomorphic animals (and mushrooms) navigating bleak realities and confronting existentialist concerns.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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Life can be tumultuous for believers and non-believers alike, and the show does a good job acknowledging that.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
15 May 2026
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Throughout Drake's career, the 39-year-old emcee has been open in his music about his tumultuous relationship with his father, including his parents' divorce and his absence from his life.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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The first wave of women’s-rights activists won suffrage for women, against ferocious and sometimes violent opposition.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
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Featuring aching, ferocious performances from Emmy winners Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson, Camp Miasma imagines the resurrection of a dormant slasher franchise.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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White Sox fans got the last laugh on Sunday afternoon as their squad completed a wild, thrilling comeback victory over their crosstown rivals.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
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Ebola virus is transmitted to people from wild animals, such as fruit bats, porcupines and non-human primates, with fruit bats believed to be the natural hosts of the orthoebolavirus.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Photos from the rainy Buckingham Palace gathering — complete with umbrellas and overcast skies — further echoed familiar scenes from the late monarch’s reign.—
Paloma Chavez,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
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That's it on this rainy Tuesday with 36 holes of golf on my schedule this week.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
Adjective
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There were sporadic injuries reported as well as some arrests and property damage.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
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Flowers nearly cover the plant in spring, followed by sporadic blooms throughout the season.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turbulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turbulent. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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