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
Before the council’s discussion at the often-chaotic meeting, members of the public pleaded with council members to cancel the contract.
—Stacy Brandt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Cavernous, slightly chaotic, and nearly always crowded—this is not just a hotel, but a destination to cross off the checklist for visitors to Singapore.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
The Carry-on Pro features a sleek, scratch-resistant polycarbonate shell, whisper-smooth 360-degree spinner wheels, and an ejectable front laptop sleeve that makes TSA checks far less chaotic.
—Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2026
But by 1973, things got a bit chaotic.
—Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chaotic
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Stacy Brandt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Cavernous, slightly chaotic, and nearly always crowded—this is not just a hotel, but a destination to cross off the checklist for visitors to Singapore.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
The Carry-on Pro features a sleek, scratch-resistant polycarbonate shell, whisper-smooth 360-degree spinner wheels, and an ejectable front laptop sleeve that makes TSA checks far less chaotic.
—Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2026
But by 1973, things got a bit chaotic.
—Vivian Kwarm, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 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 2 Mar. 2026.
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