clusterfuck

noun

clus·​ter·​fuck ˈklə-stər-ˌfək 

plural clusterfucks

vulgar slang

: a complex and utterly disordered and mismanaged situation : a muddled mess

Zap is funny. Zap has the hots for your mother, who, even if she weren't too wrapped up in the tragic clusterfuck of her own life to notice, would probably be out of his league anyway.

—Jonathan Tropper, Everything Changes, 2005

As Luke tuned up, I watched as tourists snapped photos, panhandlers hassled the tourists, and junkies and drunks mixed it up like trained bears in a Russian circus during an earthquake. I realized that soon mine would be the loudest voice in this clusterfuck and that all these people would be staring at me.

—Robert Wilder, Tales from the Teachers' Lounge, 2007

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "simultaneous copulation between multiple partners, orgy," from cluster entry 1 + fuck entry 2

First Known Use

1969, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!