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
Given the show’s familiar blend of person-on-the-street stunts, chaotic celebrity interviews, and lewd displays, comparisons are inescapable.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Also, a special event zone with enhanced penalties will be in effect in Daytona Beach for your next chaotic pop-up event.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
In a chaotic week, a steady hand like that can be an asset; there’s no time for overthinking.
—Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 18 Mar. 2026
There has never been a more chaotic and disrupted time for college athlete eligibility.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
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Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Also, a special event zone with enhanced penalties will be in effect in Daytona Beach for your next chaotic pop-up event.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
In a chaotic week, a steady hand like that can be an asset; there’s no time for overthinking.
—Hannah Jocelyn, Pitchfork, 18 Mar. 2026
There has never been a more chaotic and disrupted time for college athlete eligibility.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 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 23 Mar. 2026.
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