Word
turbulent
Phoneticstur·bu·lent
US/ˈtɝbjəɫənt/
UK/tˈɜːbjʊlənt/
Definitions
01physical movement
adj. moving in an irregular and often violent way, especially air or water.
adj. characterised by chaotic, irregular, or violent motion, particularly in fluid dynamics or atmospheric conditions.
“The pilot warned us that the flight might get a bit turbulent as we flew over the mountains.”
“The aircraft encountered turbulent air while crossing the jet stream, causing significant vibration throughout the cabin for several minutes.”
02unstable situation
adj. full of confusion, change, and often conflict or violence.
adj. characterised by unrest, disorder, or insubordination; often applied to historical periods or political climates.
“The country has had a turbulent history with many changes in government.”
“The company went through a turbulent period following the merger, as staff struggled to adapt to the new corporate culture.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Photograph: ABC/Allstar Despite her on-screen success, Panettiere’s personal life was turbulent; after the birth of her daughter in 2014, she suffered postnatal depression.” “The king and queen's health problems come after a turbulent time for the Norwegian royals.” Etymology
From Middle English turbulent, from Middle French turbulent, from Latin turbulentus, from turba (“disorder, tumult, crowd”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
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englishreference.com/q/turbulent