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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of turbulent
Brittin takes on the role amid another turbulent time for the broadcaster.
—
K.j. Yossman, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Harvard University has had a turbulent few months.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
The descent was turbulent, passenger Rebecca Liquori told NBC News.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
Already the Iran war, now in its fourth week, has seen thousands of people killed and injured, global energy prices skyrocketing, and vast swathes of the turbulent Middle East in the grip of appalling violence.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turbulent
K.j. Yossman, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Harvard University has had a turbulent few months.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
The descent was turbulent, passenger Rebecca Liquori told NBC News.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
Already the Iran war, now in its fourth week, has seen thousands of people killed and injured, global energy prices skyrocketing, and vast swathes of the turbulent Middle East in the grip of appalling violence.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for turbulent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turbulent
Adjective
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Jessica Gorman delivered emotional remarks Saturday at a vigil in Yorktown Heights, New York, honoring her daughter — a Loyola University Chicago freshman whose life was cut short in what authorities describe as a sudden, violent attack.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
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That’s a reference to what Duncan always intended, and rightly so, as a holistic approach to the problem of violent crime, involving not just violence interrupting by former gang members turned peacekeepers but better education and job opportunities for the young people most at risk.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Heat has also now allowed more than 120 points in eight of the 10 games during this rough 2-8 stretch.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Italian coast guard operated in the Libyan search and rescue area amid rough weather conditions, a spokesman said on Wednesday.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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What’s great about Grayson’s story is that things were looking pretty bleak before the Bananas rolled into town about a decade ago.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
28 Mar. 2026
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The future looks bleak for non-power conferences and uncertain for Big East, Big 12 and ACC, too.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Henyard was elected Dolton mayor in 2021 and appointed Thornton Township supervisor later that year by trustees, but failed to be reelected after a tumultuous term in both offices.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
After a tumultuous 2024, things rebounded in 2025.—
Jay Woods,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Italy happens to be in similarly ferocious form, however, and has won seven of its last eight, albeit losing twice in as many encounters with qualifying group winner Norway last year.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Despite Iran’s remarkably ferocious response across the region – attacking neighbors like Oman who days earlier mediated between Tehran and Washington - weeks of intense airstrikes against its cities and military has not magically left it a hundred feet tall.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Activities showcase Cempedak’s wild landscapes and seascapes, offering complimentary forest birdwatching and night walk safaris, yoga sessions, and watersports equipment, including SUP, kayaking, snorkelling, and windsurfing.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
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New Jersey is 10 points behind Columbus for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with nine games remaining.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The beetles take advantage of the fact that the construction workers who finished the house just a few months earlier miscalculated and left too much space between the doors and the ground, failing to consider insects or the rainy season.—
María Ospina,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
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Fire trucks lined up outside a funeral home in Chicago’s southwest suburbs on a gray and rainy Tuesday morning for the funeral of Michael Altman, a Chicago firefighter who died while working to put out a Rogers Park fire earlier this month.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The data points to a genuine enhancement in the sporadic fireball background at the large-object end of the size distribution.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The two sides have engaged in sporadic retaliatory aerial attacks in recent years, though the fighting between them had largely simmered down in recent months.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turbulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turbulent. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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