From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishturbulencetur‧bu‧lence /ˈtɜːbjələns $ ˈtɜːr-/ ●○○ noun [uncountable] 1 HEMirregular and violent movements of air or water that are caused by the wind2 CONFUSEDa political or emotional situation that is very confused SYN turmoil A period of political turbulence followed the civil war.
Examples from the Corpus
turbulence• Once more, the market had wide swings, capping a week of turbulence.• The political turbulence of the 1970s and 1980s disturbed this cosy conceptualisation of things.• The political turbulence that followed the Civil War was only brought under control by Cromwell's benevolent dictatorship.• Political turbulence is spreading throughout the country.• The plane encountered severe turbulence during the flight.• They ran into bad weather and the turbulence upset the youngest Brückner child.• The turbulence will have carried them over different paths. 