characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination (Freq. 1) - effects of the struggle will be violent and disruptive - riotous times - these troubled areas - the tumultuous years of his administration - a turbulent and unruly childhood • Syn: disruptive, riotous, troubled, turbulent • Similar to: unquiet • Derivationally related forms: turbulence (for: turbulent), tumult, tumultuousness, riot (for: riotous), disrupt (for: disruptive)