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

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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 BlackCat, also known as ALPHV, caused chaos in the healthcare system by taking down the Change Healthcare payment network in February 2024 and was used against hundreds of other victims. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026 Hurtado’s experience illustrates the chaos that, according to relatives of the deceased deportees and a forensic medicine expert, marked the handling of bodies after the earthquakes. — Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026 With both nights devolving into chaos, Brooks and the other guys decide to call it quits on this gender experiment and plan to infiltrate the girls’ night and merge groups. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 July 2026 Season 2 will explore Diarra, who, over this summer, is determined to leave the chaos behind and finally enjoy a little peace. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 9 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
  • His counterpressing has been a major aid to the way the team plays, and Balogun’s ability to run in behind the lines and cause havoc in the box opens space and makes things easier for the attacking players around him.
    — Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • You’d be forgiven for thinking far fewer of the destructive predators are causing havoc, however.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 July 2026
Definition of havoc
Noun
  • The coach inherited a mess and wiped the slate clean with 40-plus transfers.
    — Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • Melting suet turns rancid fast and creates a mess of bird plumage.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 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
  • Even though talks with the Boston Red Sox at last year’s deadline never got close, the confusion provided by an incorrect tweet announcing Ryan’s trade to New England put the pitcher at the top of every trade list before the season even began.
    — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 6 July 2026
  • There have been confusion and contradictions in the lead up to the visit over accommodation arrangements for the Sussex family.
    — Max Foster, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of confusion
Noun
  • When the typewriter was first invented, writers kicked hell and said, The thing is writing.
    — Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026
  • The cast, of course, knew that experience of family as heaven, hell and somewhere in between.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2026
Definition of hell
Noun
  • For people coming out of shelters – especially those dealing with trauma, mental illness, or substance use disorder – that can make the difference between short-term housing and long-term stability.
    — Meg Dunn, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
  • Meniere’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that can cause severe dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss and ears feeling congested, according to the NIH.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of disorder

Browse Nearby Words

chants
chaos
chaoses
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Cite this Entry

“Chaos.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaos. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chaos

Nglish: Translation of chaos for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chaos

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