turmoil

noun

ˈtər-ˌmȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce turmoil (audio)
Definition of turmoilnext
1
as in unrest
a disturbed or uneasy state was in turmoil most of the night, trying to convince himself he had made the right decision

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity avoided the turmoil of the mall during the holiday season

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of turmoil The View From Midland Despite the year’s geopolitical turmoil, there’s a newfound sense of economic stability in Midland that, for the first time in the city’s history, doesn’t seem to depend on sustained high oil prices. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Of course, times of political and economic turmoil leave doc producers having to weigh making films that can find audiences and making films a company really believes in. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2026 The entertainment industry has been in turmoil recently, thanks to a string of inconsistencies. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026 The first signs of turmoil emerged in July last year, when LuisaViaRoma revealed plans to streamline its business operations by shutting its unit and office in Milan. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for turmoil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turmoil
  1. unrest
  2. commotion
  3. confusion
  4. disturbance
  5. excitement
  6. stir
  7. tension
  8. hurry
Noun
  • The unrest culminated in rioting and looting over the weekend, with officials estimating that the damages could be worth hundreds of millions of euros.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
  • France has had two consecutive quiet nights since the weekend’s unrest.
    — Samuel Petrequin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of unrest
Noun
  • In the commotion, she was briefly separated from her 85-year-old mother, who lives with her.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • That allowed passengers to hear the commotion and discover what was happening.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of commotion
Noun
  • Almeida said Election Day confusion is possible in some precincts but the nature of the threat requires a collective effort.
    — STEVE PEOPLES, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Lula’s victory followed confusion at polling places after Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin ordered a last-minute, two-hour extension of voting nationwide.
    — David Unsworth , Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of confusion
Noun
  • The vote, which is veto-proof, was met with praise by animal rights groups and park advocates who have long called for the ban citing several incidents where horses crashed or caused disturbances.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • There’s also a second disturbance several hundred miles east-southeast of Bermuda that could develop through Friday while moving north-northeast, the hurricane center advisory said.
    — Robin Webb, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of disturbance
Noun
  • On top of that, excitement around the company's iPhone Duo launch was palpable.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
  • And there’s the anxiety, maybe even excitement, of rebuilding.
    — Grey Battle, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of excitement
Noun
  • The video caused a mild, wholesome stir, but a stir nonetheless.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Kosmos 2612 is operating in low Earth orbit (LEO), which is part of the reason its activities have created such a stir.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of stir
Noun
  • Her remarks angered China and led to tensions that have spilled over into the economy.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • But the precedent of past legal disputes and rising tension between the President and Reyes leave some experts wondering if this project will advance.
    — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of tension
Noun
  • The pass rush couldn’t get close to Chambliss (no sacks, 4 hurries), who was able to find receivers exploiting Missouri’s zone coverage.
    — PJ Green October 17, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Defensive tackle Will Echoles consistently disrupted the Missouri offensive front for five tackles, two broken up passes, one sack and one quarterback hurry.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of hurry

Browse Nearby Words

turkeys
turmoil
turmoils
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Turmoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turmoil. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All