chaotic

adjective

cha·​ot·​ic kā-ˈä-tik How to pronounce chaotic (audio)
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
To the uninitiated visitor, the seemingly chaotic energy of a typical Thai market may give the impression of a free-for-all, …Diane Ruengsom
2
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
A 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
chaotically adverb
a chaotically busy scene

Examples of chaotic in a Sentence

a chaotic cellar sorely in need of some straightening up
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This chaotic style is reminiscent of the Paris-Nicole-Lindsay glory days of Y2K—which, in a way, have resurged thanks to Charli XCX’s Brat summer (and now fall). Christopher Rosa, Glamour, 2 Dec. 2024 In its darkest corners, demons dwell, wreaking havoc with their masks of chaotic power. Erik Kain, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024 The film makes terrific slapstick use of Schwarzenegger's action-hero persona (including his immaculate comic timing), pitting him against charging reindeer and scam artist Santas, and dressing him up as Turbo Man for a chaotic parade. EW.com, 30 Nov. 2024 Another explanation ties the name to the chaotic crowds and traffic jams that became synonymous with the event. Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 29 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for chaotic 

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chaotic was in 1688

Dictionary Entries Near chaotic

Cite this Entry

“Chaotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaotic. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

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