turmoil

noun

tur·​moil ˈtər-ˌmȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce turmoil (audio)
: a state or condition of extreme confusion, agitation, or commotion

Examples of turmoil in a Sentence

The country has been in turmoil for the past 10 years. a period of political turmoil His life has been in a constant turmoil.
Recent Examples on the Web But throughout these decades of turmoil, one constant remained: The Alaouite kings always stood by the Jewish community. Theo Zenou, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 The unprecedented decision threw IVF treatment into turmoil there and ignited a wider debate on the definition of personhood. Naomi Schanen, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Gilzean’s new appointment comes at a time of turmoil for the district, which has seen an exodus of experienced staffers since the takeover and lots of litigation. Mike Schneider, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 Gilzean's new appointment comes at a time of turmoil for the district, which has seen an exodus of experienced staffers since the takeover and multiple litigation. Mike Schneider, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 Also, in a world in so much turmoil, creators try to look in the past or look into the future to address current topics. John Hopewell, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024 Experience Factor The general election winner will take charge of an office in turmoil, leading some to call for a pair of steady hands to replace Gascón. James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2024 OpenAI and Altman have been thrown into turmoil repeatedly since the company's chatbot made its public debut in November 2022. Juliana Kim, NPR, 1 Mar. 2024 These successes are especially noteworthy given that the People’s Republic of China is less than 75 years old and was in utter turmoil during the disastrous Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976, when intellectuals were sent to the countryside, schools stopped functioning and chaos reigned. Dan Murphy, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'turmoil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of turmoil was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near turmoil

Cite this Entry

“Turmoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turmoil. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

turmoil

noun
tur·​moil ˈtər-ˌmȯil How to pronounce turmoil (audio)
: a very confused or disturbed state or condition

More from Merriam-Webster on turmoil

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