Turbulence is a state of confusion and disorganized change.
The 1960s and early 1970s were a time of change and turbulence.
...a region often beset by political turbulence.
Synonyms: confusion, turmoil, unrest, instability More Synonyms of turbulence
2. uncountable noun
Turbulence is violent and uneven movement within a particular area of air, liquid, or gas.
His plane encountered severe turbulence and winds of nearly two-hundred miles anhour.
turbulence in British English
(ˈtɜːbjʊləns) or rarely turbulency (ˈtɜːbjʊlənsɪ)
noun
1.
a state or condition of confusion, movement, or agitation; disorder
2. meteorology
local instability in the atmosphere, oceans, or rivers
3.
turbulent flow in a liquid or gas
turbulence in American English
(ˈtɜrbjələns)
noun
the condition or quality of being turbulent
; specif.,
a.
commotion or wild disorder
b.
violent, irregular motion or swirling agitation of water, air, gas, etc.
Also ˈturbulency
Word origin
LL turbulentia
Examples of 'turbulence' in a sentence
turbulence
Not all of them can ride out this financial turbulence.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It can be guaranteed that both countries will hit economic and political turbulence.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The company said current economic turbulence may provide further opportunities for growth through acquisition.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The seam acts as a rudder and the air turbulence around the sphere can cause it to swerve alarmingly.
The Sun (2013)
Something similar happens with solitary waves in the atmosphere and you sometimes feel them as clear air turbulence onboard aircraft.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He can fairly claim that the government is pursuing the best policies to take the country through the current economic turbulence.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There may be political turbulence too.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There are fears of political turbulence.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They talk of a man who has changed amid off-field turbulence.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
This fund has been hit by recent turbulence, so is cheap.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Investor confidence can be a fragile creature, not least in times of financial turbulence.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Today, economic turbulence has splintered the middle class.
A Conceptual View of Human Resource Management: Strategic Objectives, Environments,Functions
The world may be gripped by global economic turbulence but not Britain.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There are certainly those who see this as a great time to buy and our regular traders have been extremely active during the recent turbulence.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
If they walk away and the result is political and financial turbulence, the public will find it hard to forgive them.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But with all the political turbulence, is he still relishing the job and managing at the same time to enjoy family life?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The news will intensify the atmosphere of chronic turbulence in the ancient sport, which has been embarrassed by one disreputable incident after another.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The recent turbulence has shown that the only genuine balanced portfolio is one with cash, bonds and perhaps a little gold alongside equities.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
That includes the eye-catching chrome door mirrors with LED lights which have been shaped to reduce air turbulence and wind noise.
The Sun (2009)
A British exit would cause financial turbulence across Europe and traders would also regard this as an opportunity to make profits.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In other languages
turbulence
British English: turbulence /ˈtɜːbjʊləns/ NOUN
Turbulence is a state of confusion and disorganized change.
...a region often affected by political turbulence.
American English: turbulence
Arabic: اِضْطِراب
Brazilian Portuguese: turbulência
Chinese: 骚乱
Croatian: turbulencija
Czech: nepokoje politické
Danish: turbulens
Dutch: turbulentie
European Spanish: turbulencia
Finnish: levottomuus
French: turbulence
German: Aufruhr
Greek: αναταραχή
Italian: turbolenza
Japanese: 激動
Korean: 난기류
Norwegian: turbulens
Polish: turbulencja
European Portuguese: turbulência
Romanian: turbulență
Russian: турбулентность
Latin American Spanish: turbulencia
Swedish: turbulens
Thai: ความปั่นป่วน
Turkish: çalkantı
Ukrainian: турбулентність
Vietnamese: sự hỗn loạn
Chinese translation of 'turbulence'
turbulence
(ˈtəːbjuləns)
n(u)
猛烈而不稳(穩)定的水流/气(氣)流 (měngliè ér bù wěndìng de shuǐliú/qìliú)
(noun)
Definition
a state or condition of confusion, movement, or agitation
a region often beset by religious turbulence
Synonyms
confusion
The rebel leader seems to have escaped in the confusion.
turmoil
a year of political turmoil
unrest
The real danger is civil unrest in the east of the country.
instability
storm
The photos caused a storm when they were first published.
boiling
disorder
He called on the authorities to stop public disorder.
upheaval
a prolonged period of political upheaval
agitation
He was in a state of emotional agitation.
commotion
He heard a terrible commotion outside.
pandemonium
There was pandemonium in the court as the verdict was delivered.
tumult
Round one ended to a tumult of whistles, screams and shouts.
roughness
Opposites
rest
,
peace
,
quiet
,
calm
,
stillness
,
repose
Additional synonyms
in the sense of agitation
He was in a state of emotional agitation.
Synonyms
turmoil,
worry,
trouble,
upset,
alarm,
confusion,
excitement,
disturbance,
distraction,
upheaval,
stimulation,
flurry,
outcry,
clamour,
arousal,
ferment,
disquiet,
commotion,
fluster,
lather (informal),
incitement,
tumult,
discomposure,
tizzy, tizz or tiz-woz (informal)
in the sense of commotion
Definition
noisy disturbance
He heard a terrible commotion outside.
Synonyms
disturbance,
to-do,
riot,
disorder,
excitement,
fuss,
turmoil,
racket,
upheaval,
bustle,
furore,
outcry,
uproar,
ferment,
agitation,
ado,
rumpus,
tumult,
hubbub,
hurly-burly,
brouhaha,
hullabaloo,
ballyhoo (informal),
hue and cry,
perturbation
in the sense of disorder
Definition
public violence or rioting
He called on the authorities to stop public disorder.
Synonyms
disturbance,
fight,
riot,
turmoil,
unrest,
quarrel,
upheaval,
brawl,
clamour,
uproar,
turbulence,
fracas,
commotion,
rumpus,
tumult,
hubbub,
shindig (informal),
hullabaloo,
scrimmage,
unruliness,
shindy (informal),
bagarre,
biffo (Australian, slang)
Nearby words of
turbulence
tuneless
tunnel
turbid
turbulence
turbulent
turf
turf someone out
Synonyms of 'turbulence'
turbulence
Explore 'turbulence' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of pandemonium
Definition
wild confusion
There was pandemonium in the court as the verdict was delivered.
Synonyms
uproar,
confusion,
chaos,
turmoil,
racket,
clamour,
din,
commotion,
rumpus,
bedlam,
babel,
tumult,
hubbub,
ruction (informal),
hullabaloo,
hue and cry,
ruckus (informal)
in the sense of storm
Definition
a violent disturbance or quarrel
The photos caused a storm when they were first published.
Synonyms
outburst,
row,
stir,
outcry,
furore,
violence,
anger,
passion,
outbreak,
turmoil,
disturbance,
strife,
clamour,
agitation,
commotion,
rumpus,
tumult,
hubbub
in the sense of tumult
Definition
a loud confused noise, such as one produced by a crowd
Round one ended to a tumult of whistles, screams and shouts.
Synonyms
clamour,
row,
outbreak,
racket,
din,
uproar,
fracas,
commotion,
pandemonium,
babel,
hubbub,
hullabaloo
in the sense of turmoil
Definition
disorder, agitation, or confusion
a year of political turmoil
Synonyms
confusion,
trouble,
violence,
row,
noise,
stir,
disorder,
chaos,
disturbance,
upheaval,
bustle,
flurry,
strife,
disarray,
uproar,
turbulence,
ferment,
agitation,
commotion,
pandemonium,
bedlam,
tumult,
hubbub,
brouhaha
in the sense of unrest
Definition
a rebellious state of discontent
The real danger is civil unrest in the east of the country.