: characterized by agitation or tumult : tempestuous
a turbulent marriage
2
: causing unrest, violence, or disturbance
a set of mischievous, turbulent rebels Anne Brönte
turbulentlyadverb
Did you know?
Some people lead turbulent lives, and some are constantly in the grip of turbulent emotions. The late 1960s are remembered as turbulent years of social revolution in America and Europe. Often the captain of an airplane will warn passengers to fasten their seatbelts because of upper-air turbulence, which can make for a bumpy ride. El Niño, a seasonal current of warm water in the Pacific Ocean, may create turbulence in the winds across the United States, affecting patterns of rainfall and temperature as well.
Turbulent waters caused the boat to capsize. The sixties were a turbulent period in American history.
Recent Examples on the WebFour female executives at the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) are exiting the network amid the turbulent Warner Bros Discovery merger. Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2022 Several couples that have been together since Day 1 hit turbulent waters, and some didn't survive. Kimi Robinson, The Arizona Republic, 2 Aug. 2022 But not all hair professionals actively encourage the emotionally turbulent to alter their appearance. Luna Adler, Glamour, 26 July 2022 Evusheld’s own turbulent history has also contributed to the slow uptake. Jason Mast, STAT, 23 July 2022 Those honors appear to go to Trump, whose Save America PAC went up with an ad in September criticizing President Biden for the turbulent and heavily criticized U.S. exit from Afghanistan. Paul Steinhauser, Fox News, 27 June 2022 Like Vogt’s films with Trier—Reprise, Louder than Bombs, and the psychokinetic fantasy Thelma—The Innocents explores the youthful struggle between confronting a turbulent, outside world and constructing an ethical center. Erik Morse, Vogue, 9 May 2022 Nechaev, who presided over some of Russia's most turbulent economic times and helped steer its transition to a market economy, credits some of this to the central bank. Clare Sebastian, CNN, 28 Aug. 2022 In these turbulent economic times marked by layoffs, hiring freezes and global inflation, here’s how to thoroughly vet a potential employer before switching jobs. Laura Smythe, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Latin turbulentus, from turba confusion, crowd — more at turbid