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
Unemployment remains low and inflation has dropped below 3%, but Biden struggled to convince Americans that the turbulent times of the post-Covid era were over.
—
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2025
The return of the Trump administration promises a turbulent and transformative period for NASA and the broader U.S. space sector.
—Andrew Jones, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2025
Garland came in with a mission to calm the waters and restore the department’s reputation for independence after four turbulent years under Republican President Donald Trump, who fired one attorney general and feuded with another.
—Colleen Long, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025
There could still be turbulent waters ahead, of course.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for turbulent 
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2025
The return of the Trump administration promises a turbulent and transformative period for NASA and the broader U.S. space sector.
—Andrew Jones, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2025
Garland came in with a mission to calm the waters and restore the department’s reputation for independence after four turbulent years under Republican President Donald Trump, who fired one attorney general and feuded with another.
—Colleen Long, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025
There could still be turbulent waters ahead, of course.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for turbulent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turbulent
Adjective
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After the end of the apartheid regime, Tutu also served as chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was established to investigate acts of violence committed both by government forces and violent activists.—
Joanne M. Pierce,
The Conversation,
28 Jan. 2025
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The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is intent on changing the script of American cities plagued by crime by implementing policy changes that have led to violent crime taking a tumble.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
Fox News,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Reed, who was challenged by Hurley after his stretch of rough outings, ripped an offensive rebound from the arms of Butler’s Pierre Brooks five minutes in and finished a layup.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
22 Jan. 2025
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Piñeiro should have a decent market, despite having a rough second half of the season.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Matt Harrison, president of Kuka Home North America, which has a furniture manufacturing base in Monterrey, fears the future could be bleak.—
David Culver,
CNN,
18 Jan. 2025
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The negotiations have seemingly stalled and the market for him is bleak.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But this tumultuous journey, rife with the problems of the modern era, is coming to an end.—
Kate McMahon,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Jan. 2025
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The exchange between artist and patron, however, becomes corrosive, a tumultuous dynamic fueled by Van Buren’s megalomania and Tóth’s creative compulsion.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Defensive standouts Bruce Smith and Derrick Thomas were ferocious competitors.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2025
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The latter, which begins at Second and Market Streets, circles Union Square and ends at Kearny Street and Columbus Ave., includes floats, ferocious lions, firecrackers and a 288-foot long Golden Dragon.—
Jackie Burrell,
The Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The South is being targeted by a major winter storm, most of the nation remains gripped by brutal cold, and high winds threaten to fan the flames of killer blazes in Southern California on Tuesday as the U.S. grapples with wild winter weather.—
John Bacon,
USA TODAY,
21 Jan. 2025
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Targets Birthright Citizenship Her first foster pair of bald eagle chicks arrived in 1976, having been removed from their wild parents’ nest in Wisconsin.—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Los Angeles has received essentially no rainfall in over 10 months, with the driest start to a rainy season on record, parching soils and vegetation and setting the stage for extreme winds to intensify and spread the fires.—
Peter H. Gleick,
Scientific American,
24 Jan. 2025
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San Diego has only gotten 0.14 inches of rain since Oct. 1, leading to the driest start of the rainy season since 1850.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Just one decade later, he's become one of Meta's fiercest competitors BYMarco Quiroz-Gutierrez January 15, 2025 7 hours ago Personal Finance A woman purchased a vacant Hawaiian lot for about $22,000.—
Chloe Berger,
Fortune,
20 Jan. 2025
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Rubio was a fierce Trump critic during the contest for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
20 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near turbulent
Cite this Entry
“Turbulent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turbulent. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
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