chaos

noun

ˈkā-ˌäs How to pronounce chaos (audio)
Definition of chaosnext
as in havoc
a state in which everything is out of order the boy's room is in such chaos that it looks as though a tornado had struck

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of chaos This caused chaos and then the ‌Israeli military ​arrived and started shooting, along with ‌the settlers, Saifi told Reuters. — Reuters, NBC news, 24 July 2026 Throughout all this chaos, the Fleetwood Mac touring machine whirled on. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2026 The chaos broke out shortly after the dinner guests were welcomed — before dinner had been served and programming got underway. — Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026 Adi Klevit, Founder of Business Success Consulting Group, helps leaders turn chaos into clarity with systems that scale. — Adi Klevit, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for chaos
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chaos
  1. havoc
  2. mess
  3. jumble
  4. confusion
  5. hell
  6. disorder
Noun
  • Hundreds of homes and businesses in Queens were without power Sunday after a sudden storm caused havoc across the city a day earlier, flooding major highways and leaving motorists stranded.
    — John Annese, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026
  • Bernthal’s biggest scenes are flashbacks to the Trojan War, as Menelaus and his army wreak bloody havoc on Troy that haunts Odysseus for many years after.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 16 July 2026
Definition of havoc
Noun
  • Stormwater can also wash away gravel and mulch, leaving you with a mess to clean up after every rain.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 July 2026
  • Swap a mess of tiny tea candles for a larger scented candle styled on a tray with a pair of decorative matches.
    — Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 18 July 2026
Definition of mess
Noun
  • Arches and natural bridges sweep like buttresses from jumbles of rock, giving this landscape a mystical, cathedral-like quality.
    — Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Macaroons are chewy jumbles of coconut bound together with egg whites and sweetened condensed milk.
    — Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of jumble
Noun
  • The Cook County Department of Public Health is working to counteract vaccine misinformation, myths and confusion regarding vaccines as part of its efforts to increase vaccination rates.
    — Francine Knowles, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
  • There’s been a lot of excitement, and a lot of questions, and a lot of confusion.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 20 July 2026
Definition of confusion
Noun
  • In Harrenhal, Aemond is plagued by nightmares of his (not) dead brother dragging him to hell.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • After being a key to the victory of the Trojan War, Greek hero Odysseus (Matt Damon) goes to hell and back trying to get home to his wife (Anne Hathaway) and son (Tom Holland) in Nolan's brutal yet introspective adaptation of Homer's epic poem.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 17 July 2026
Definition of hell
Noun
  • The woman said she’s struggled with anxiety and nightmares ever since and has been diagnosed with post- traumatic stress disorder.
    — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 July 2026
  • Dobson resigned from the American Psychological Association in 1973 over its removal of homosexuality from its list of psychological disorders.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 2026
Definition of disorder

Browse Nearby Words

chants
chaos
chaoses
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chaos.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaos. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on chaos

Nglish: Translation of chaos for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chaos

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of aerie

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All