1
: marked by chaos or being in a state of chaos : completely confused or disordered
a chaotic political race
After he became famous, his life became even more chaotic.
They may look chaotic and barbaric, but scrums are a critical and strategic part of the game, and they unfold and escalate according to hockey's venerated, unwritten rules of engagement.—
David Fleming
David FlemingTo the uninitiated visitor, the seemingly chaotic energy of a typical Thai market may give the impression of a free-for-all, …—Diane Ruengsom
Diane Ruengsom2
mathematics
: having outcomes that can vary widely due to extremely small changes in initial conditions
In other words, what comes out of the program's equations is extremely sensitive to what goes in. And that, as any mathematician would recognize, is one of the hallmarks of chaotic systems.—Ingrid Wickelgren
Ingrid WickelgrenA physical system—a weather system, say—is chaotic if a very slight change in initial conditions sends the system off on a very different course.—Physics Today
Physics TodayExamples of chaotic in a Sentence
a chaotic cellar sorely in need of some straightening up
Recent Examples on the Web
Megna scored with 70 seconds remaining in Game 7, at the business end of a great play by Makar, but the sand in the hourglass ran out at the end of a chaotic game.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 11 June 2026
Despite this extraordinary diversity, the community was not chaotic.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
When actually the true version of ourselves is kind of messy, chaotic and vulnerable.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Online, his videos look chaotic, but behind the scenes, the project’s ringleader spends his free time poring over satellite maps, visiting potential chase sites and crafting the necessary recording angles.
—Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for chaotic
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Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 11 June 2026
Despite this extraordinary diversity, the community was not chaotic.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
When actually the true version of ourselves is kind of messy, chaotic and vulnerable.
—Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
Online, his videos look chaotic, but behind the scenes, the project’s ringleader spends his free time poring over satellite maps, visiting potential chase sites and crafting the necessary recording angles.
—Audrey Pachuta, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for chaotic
Cite this Entry
“Chaotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaotic. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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