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

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

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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 While the industry is no stranger to turmoil, the recently rapid pace of change is keeping media investors and onlookers on their toes. — Alex Sherman,lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026 The school has been in turmoil since the summer when the executive director and assistant principal in charge of athletics were both ousted. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 The criminal case comes amid broader turmoil in Jackson County government. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026 Sevilla will host a Vallecano team that is in turmoil amid administration issues that has kept the club out of its Vallecas stadium for the beginning of the season. — ABC News, 15 Aug. 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
  • Other factors have contributed to unrest over inflation, some analysts said.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Any potential for unrest or protests related to people’s monitoring of market forecasts is likely to come in the days following the election, while ballots still are being counted, Logan said.
    — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of unrest
Noun
  • Hearing the commotion, John calls for Gates only for the assailant to kick through the door.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Sleep was beginning to finally visit the insomniacs and drunkards of T—in central Manila when a commotion louder than the usual domestic squabbles erupted from the room above Mang Calixto’s bakery.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of commotion
Noun
  • The new on-pitch laws… There was confusion at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium in the first round of the Carabao Cup, when substitute Fin Cartwright was held back from entering the pitch straight away.
    — George Edwards, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The confusion is that Italian etiquette is not the same as Italian-American etiquette, where the continuing use of the spoon is not uncommon.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of confusion
Noun
  • The incident happened last week at the Creekside community pool after police responded to a disturbance call.
    — Marissa Armas, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The newest disturbance in the Atlantic moved off the coast of Africa late Tuesday.
    — Robin Webb, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of disturbance
Noun
  • After returning to full training last week and shining on his first appearance in the 2-0 victory over Como on Sunday, there was both relief and excitement at Anfield to see him finally in action.
    — Gregg Evans, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Adding to the excitement, Cody Rhodes will face Randy Orton in another high-profile contest.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of excitement
Noun
  • The Oscars smooch caused a stir in the media, but Haven later denied that there was anything untoward at play.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The news has caused a stir on the island, where Cubans have been paying for medicines on the black market for years after the government reduced the production and import of medicines amid the economic crisis.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of stir
Noun
  • Rising interfaith tensions and crime have driven many of the area’s Christians to emigrate, several said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Debbie intervenes to defuse the tension, then gets distracted by the presence of her nemesis, Cha Cha.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of tension
Noun
  • Two years into her reign, in 2024, an insider revealed that Camilla wasn’t in any hurry to step away.
    — Starr Bowenbank, InStyle, 18 July 2026
  • Prairiewolf has always seemed bent on finding new territory while being in no particular hurry to get there.
    — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 17 July 2026
Definition of hurry

Browse Nearby Words

turkeys
turmoil
turmoils
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Cite this Entry

“Turmoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turmoil. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of turmoil for Spanish Speakers

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