Meaning & use

turbulence

noun·Academic

Violent or unpredictable movement of air or water, or a state of conflict and disorder.

See it in a sentence

The plane shook violently as it passed through severe turbulence over the mountains.

The country faced years of political turbulence after the sudden change in leadership.

A note on using this word

Turbulence is used literally for weather and fluid dynamics and figuratively for chaotic social or emotional situations.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

stabilitycalm

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