as in havoc
a state in which everything is out of order
the boys' bedroom was in its usual disarray
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
he had accidentally disarrayed his brother's CDs, leaving a telltale sign of borrowing without permission
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disarray
The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2025
Novo Nordisk has been in disarray for about a year, struggling with supply constraints, battling the compounders like Hims & Hers, and losing share to Lilly.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 29 July 2025
Jacob Passy, WSJ, 12 July 2022
The hands-off approach in Washington is adding to disarray around the death penalty nationwide as pressure increases in some conservative states to find ways to continue executions amid shortages of the lethal-injection drugs.
—Michael Tarm, Anchorage Daily News, 18 June 2021
See All Example Sentences for disarray
Noun
But, after six months of DOGE, vital institutions are in disarray.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2025
Novo Nordisk has been in disarray for about a year, struggling with supply constraints, battling the compounders like Hims & Hers, and losing share to Lilly.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 29 July 2025
Verb
For much of this summer, staff shortages and a surge of travelers have led to long lines at security and passport control, disarray at baggage claim and crowded terminals in Europe.
—Jacob Passy, WSJ, 12 July 2022
The hands-off approach in Washington is adding to disarray around the death penalty nationwide as pressure increases in some conservative states to find ways to continue executions amid shortages of the lethal-injection drugs.
—Michael Tarm, Anchorage Daily News, 18 June 2021
See All Example Sentences for disarray
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disarray
Noun
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According to news reports, they were not allowed to land at O’Hare airport due to the authorities’ concern that their presence, and the associated fan attention, might play havoc on airport operations.—
Michael Peregrine,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Aug. 2025
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In Nigeria, Boko Haram and other militia groups have been spreading havoc and targeting anyone who does not subscribe to their interpretation of Islam.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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While the effects of Trump's second presidency remain to be seen, his administration has already met its promise of disrupting the status quo of the federal government.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
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Network bandwidth was a major concern—data transfers couldn’t disrupt production in any way.—
Apurva Wadodkar,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The 2025 Cleveland Browns quarterback room is a mess.—
Mike Fore,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
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These gooey bars are great to eat while otherwise engaged with the game, especially when served chilled for less mess.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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On Wednesday Ahn slowly shuffled to a bridge leading to the Korean Peninsula’s Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), pleading for permission to cross the zone – one of the most heavily militarized borders in the world – and enter North Korea.—
Gawon Bae,
CNN Money,
20 Aug. 2025
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My shortlist of 50 wouldn’t have shuffled Braid, Celeste, or Terraria to this section, but, y’know, different strokes.—
Matt Gardner,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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However, throughout the chaos and oft contentious competition, eventually the feud seemed to fade.—
Staff Author,
Southern Living,
16 Aug. 2025
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For families like Briana’s and Daniel’s, those conversations could be the difference between a child finding safety in familiar arms or facing the chaos of the foster system.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The refusal by the union to obey the order left many travelers at Toronto Pearson International Airport confused and frustrated on Aug. 17.—
Allison Lampert,
USA Today,
17 Aug. 2025
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The Chiefs looked overwhelmed and confused at times.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In jumbles of old stones that, to me, are barely legible as the remains of buildings, Cocon López could see the entire timeline of old Aké and how later people interacted with and repurposed what came before.—
Lizzie Wade,
Smithsonian Magazine,
23 May 2025
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Instead, voters themselves are jumbles of competing and sometimes contradictory interests.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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He was recently disturbed by a Reddit thread in which a user posted jargon-heavy chatbot messages that seemed eerily familiar.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
10 Aug. 2025
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This experience left him disturbed by how his presence affected others.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disarray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disarray. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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