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Meaning & use

internal turmoil

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/ɪnˌtɜːnl ˈtɜːmɔɪl/
US/ɪnˌtɝːnl ˈtɝːmɔɪl/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    A state of serious disorder, conflict or confusion inside a group, organization or country.

    Grammar: No plural and no a: the party faced internal turmoil.

    Patterns

    • internal turmoil in something
    • in internal turmoil

    The party was in internal turmoil after its leader resigned.

    Internal turmoil at the company slowed its new product launch.

    The country's internal turmoil made foreign investors nervous.

  2. noununcountable

    A state of strong, troubled feelings or doubts within a single person.

    Grammar: Often with a possessive: her internal turmoil.

    Patterns

    • someone's internal turmoil

    Behind his calm smile was a great deal of internal turmoil.

    She hid her internal turmoil during the interview.

    Choosing between the two jobs caused him real internal turmoil.

Common combinations

cause internal turmoil
The merger caused internal turmoil among staff.
deal with internal turmoil
The team had to deal with internal turmoil before the final.
amid internal turmoil
The club lost its manager amid internal turmoil.
suffer internal turmoil
The region suffered internal turmoil for years.
hide internal turmoil
He tried to hide his internal turmoil from his family.

Synonyms and how they differ

upheaval
Stresses a big, sudden change, while internal turmoil stresses confusion and conflict.
unrest
Usually describes public protest or anger in a society, not hidden conflict within a person.
strife
Focuses on open conflict or bitter quarrels, not feelings of confusion.
inner conflict
Applies mostly to one person's feelings and sounds more personal than internal turmoil.

Opposites

stabilitycalm

Word family

turmoil noun
a state of great confusion or disturbance
internal adjective
inside something
internally adverb
on the inside
turmoils noun
rare plural, for separate troubles

Commonly confused: internal turmoil or internal turbulence?

internal turmoil vs internal turbulence

Turbulence suggests rough movement, such as in air, while turmoil suggests disorder and conflict.

Practice

The board resigned one by one, showing the company was in serious internal ____.

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