turbulent
Rough and stormy
Turbulent describes violent, chaotic motion—especially in fluids.
Turbulent water churns unpredictably; turbulent air makes for a rough flight.
The word extends to any disorder or upheaval: a turbulent period in history, a turbulent relationship.
A turbulent person is prone to causing disturbance or unrest: The turbulent crowd surged toward the gates.
Marked by violent weather
- tempestuousWildly agitated or volatile
- blusteryWildly, coldly windy
- squallBrief, violent windstorm
- galeSevere sustained wind
thunderous · cyclonic · windswept · hurricane · typhoon · monsoon · whirlwind · tornado
Agitated circular motion
- roilingChurning with turbulence
- swirlingTurning in curves
- agitatedEmotionally disturbed, restless
- choppyBroken into waves
rough · whitewater · rapids · frothing · foaming · eddying · surging · sloshing
Liable to sudden change
- tempestuousWildly agitated or volatile
- passionateIntensely emotional or enthusiastic
- stormyMarked by violent weather
- intenseExtreme in degree
fiery · heated · explosive · impassioned · agitated · fervent · vehement · overwrought
Violently agitated or disturbed
- disorderedLacking systematic arrangement
- anarchicWithout governing structure
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
- mayhemViolent disorder and destruction
bedlam · pandemonium · havoc · disarray · frenzied · hectic · confused · unsettled
Angry, prolonged conflict
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- rebellionDefiance of established power
unrest · turmoil · upheaval · discord · clash · hostilities · warfare · bloodshed
Prone to sudden change
- rockyCovered with stones
- shakyTrembling or unstable
- precariousDangerously insecure
- lurchingMoving unsteadily, abruptly
fluctuating · oscillating · wavering · erratic · fitful · bumpy · jolting · jarring
stormy
Marked by violent weather
- tempestuousWildly agitated or volatile
- blusteryWildly, coldly windy
- squallBrief, violent windstorm
gale · thunderous · cyclonic · windswept · hurricane · typhoon · monsoon · whirlwind · tornado · gusty
churning
Agitated circular motion
choppy · rough · whitewater · rapids · frothing · foaming · eddying · surging · sloshing · undulating
volatile
Liable to sudden change
- tempestuousWildly agitated or volatile
- passionateIntensely emotional or enthusiastic
- stormyMarked by violent weather
intense · fiery · heated · explosive · impassioned · agitated · fervent · vehement · overwrought · mercurial
tumultuous
Violently agitated or disturbed
- disorderedLacking systematic arrangement
- anarchicWithout governing structure
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
mayhem · bedlam · pandemonium · havoc · disarray · frenzied · hectic · confused · unsettled · volatile
strife
Angry, prolonged conflict
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- revoltOrganized resistance to power
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
rebellion · unrest · turmoil · upheaval · discord · clash · hostilities · warfare · bloodshed · revolutionary
unstable
Prone to sudden change
- rockyCovered with stones
- shakyTrembling or unstable
- precariousDangerously insecure
lurching · fluctuating · oscillating · wavering · erratic · fitful · bumpy · jolting · jarring · rough
- fluid dynamicsfluid mechanics, fluid flow, fluid motion, streamlines, flow meter
- relationshipsfriends, romantic, family, friend, flirting
- chaosmayhem, chaotic, pandemonium, bedlam, turmoil
- dramatic tonesintense, tense, suspenseful, ominous, foreboding
- sky conditionsclear, clear sky, cloudy, overcast, partly cloudy
- fiercebrutal, violent, savage, ferocious, fierce
- severe turbulenceIntense, dangerous mid-flight shaking
- turbulent flowIrregular, swirling fluid dynamics
- atmospheric turbulenceChaotic air movement