CHAOTIC Synonyms: 125 Similar and Opposite Words

chaotic

adjective

kā-ˈä-tik

Definition of chaotic

as in messy

lacking in order, neatness, and often cleanliness a chaotic cellar sorely in need of some straightening up

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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 chaotic Now, everyone is waiting to see whether the Tigers will follow through on the chaotic effort to strengthen their roster before the season begins. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Lunch turned chaotic at a Golden Corral steak house when multiple customers started fighting, and a woman abruptly died, according to North Carolina investigators. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2026 So, to have my life be put on pause was daunting and a really confusing, chaotic, scary time for me. — Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026 Whoever takes his seat will have to steer a chaotic ship, at times taken over by analysts Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, both of whom haven’t given any indication of retiring. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chaotic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for chaotic

Adjective

Football is a messy game with far too many variables for one statistic to ever fully grasp.

— Austin Mock, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
The districts' policies are part of a messy patchwork of new laws and guidelines that have spread across the United States, leaving inconsistent rules state-by-state, or even district-by-district.

— Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of messy

Adjective

The path in that direction, though, still looks cluttered, with plenty of incentive left to convince Warsh and his fellow central bank policymakers that a move isn't necessary yet.

— Jeff Cox, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Still, there’s a kind of hip, comfort food aspect to the entire enterprise that keeps it an easy, if slightly cluttered and overlong watch.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of cluttered

Adjective

Entering the season, two quarterbacks sit in the top tier, followed by a drop-off to the second and third tiers — both of which are crowded and jumbled.

— Dane Brugler, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Imagine a termite carving a path like a jumbled ball of string through a tree trunk, instead of an axe cleaving a single vector.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of jumbled

Adjective

The Irish overcame a sloppy first half Sunday night to roll past Wisconsin 41-13 in Green Bay.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026
Early in the second half, Ipswich had a great chance to counter in a four-vs-four scenario, but Exequiel Palacios’ pass was sloppy and got easily cut out by Alexis Mac Allister.

— Stuart James, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of sloppy

Browse Nearby Words

chaoses

chaotic

chaotically

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“Chaotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaotic. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of chaotic

adjective

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