shambolic

adjective

sham·​bol·​ic sham-ˈbä-lik 

chiefly British

: obviously disorganized or confused

Examples of shambolic in a Sentence

a shambolic system of public transportation

Recent Examples on the Web

In January 2001, fed up with the shambolic and corrupt presidential rule of the former Manila mayor and movie star Joseph Estrada, Manileños once again took to EDSA in what became known as the Second People Power Revolution. —Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

Compared to cricket and rugby, perhaps compared to other footballing countries, referees regularly make high-profile mistakes in the Premier League, and the introduction of the VAR system has been shambolic at times. —Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026

That his was an almost farcical and shambolic attempt at an autogolpe does not change the gravity of what happened. —Jamelle Bouie, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026

Today’s vote from the shambolic meeting of the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices sets us up for needless tragedy. —Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from shambles

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shambolic

• bucolic
• carbolic
• embolic
• glycolic
• hydraulic
• phenolic
• podzolic
• symbolic
• systolic
• alcoholic
• anabolic
• apostolic