turmoil

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   A situation of great confusion, disorder or upheaval, especially in a country, group or organization.

   Grammar: Usually uncountable, with in: the country was in turmoil.

   Patterns

   • in turmoil
   • throw something into turmoil

   The sudden resignation threw the company into turmoil.

   Political turmoil forced thousands to leave the capital.

   The markets were in turmoil after the announcement.

2. 2noununcountable

   A troubled state of mind in which a person feels confused, anxious or torn.

   Grammar: Often paired with emotional: emotional turmoil, inner turmoil.

   Patterns

   • inner turmoil
   • emotional turmoil

   She hid her inner turmoil behind a calm smile.

   The teenager's mind was in turmoil after the argument.

   Years of emotional turmoil left him exhausted.

Common combinations

in turmoil

The region has been in turmoil for years.

political turmoil

Political turmoil shook the government.

emotional turmoil

The move caused a lot of emotional turmoil.

throw into turmoil

The news threw the family into turmoil.

economic turmoil

Economic turmoil closed several banks.

Synonyms and how they differ

chaos

Chaos suggests complete disorder, whereas turmoil also suggests ongoing agitation and upset.

upheaval

Upheaval stresses a big disruptive change, while turmoil stresses the confused state that follows.

unrest

Unrest usually refers to dissatisfaction in a population, a narrower use than turmoil.

commotion

Commotion is a noisy, short disturbance, but turmoil can last a long time and be silent.

Opposites

Word family

turmoils noun

rare plural

turbulence noun

violent or unsteady movement or disturbance

turbulent adjective

full of disorder or violent change

turmoiled adjective

troubled or disturbed (rare)

Commonly confused: turmoil or tumult?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “turmoil”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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