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
Much of the movie's story revolves around Marty's chaotic efforts to make enough money to travel to Japan and compete in a tournament there; Kevin O'Leary, Odessa A'zion, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara and Fran Drescher costar among a large ensemble cast.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
However, recess is often chaotic and unstructured.
—Jordan Brackett, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
Though it's seen to some as chaotic, the cluttercore aesthetic feels welcoming and familiar to those that embrace it.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 4 Jan. 2026
Shopping can feel less chaotic, particularly if the store your visiting is smaller in size.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chaotic
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Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
However, recess is often chaotic and unstructured.
—Jordan Brackett, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2026
Though it's seen to some as chaotic, the cluttercore aesthetic feels welcoming and familiar to those that embrace it.
—Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 4 Jan. 2026
Shopping can feel less chaotic, particularly if the store your visiting is smaller in size.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 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 10 Jan. 2026.
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