shambolic

chiefly British

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 shambolic Aside from the multiple cycles of shambolic administration by the state party of the caucuses there, Iowa is just too Republican these days to be a good starting place for Democrats. Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 26 Aug. 2025 Played with shambolic brilliance by Gary Oldman, Lamb oversees a team at Slough House, a shabby off-site dumping ground for disgraced and rejected agents. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2025 England were 2-0 down on the night after a shambolic display saw Kosovare Asllani put Sweden ahead in the first two minutes before Stina Blackstenius doubled their lead just over 20 minutes later. Oli Gamp, New York Times, 22 July 2025 In the end, the Russian offensive was just shambolic enough to let Ukrainian forces fight a successful delaying action, holding the capital and sucking Putin’s military into a long, bloody slog. Hal Brands, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for shambolic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shambolic
Adjective
  • This is bloody and chaotic, and reasonably interesting.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
  • In November 2023, Destiny Udogie and Cristian Romero were sent off in a chaotic 4-1 defeat.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • She was charged with disorderly intoxication, battery on an officer/firefighter/EMT, resisting arrest with violence and threatening a public servant, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.
    Diane J. Cho, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
  • There may not be a more disorderly team in the NFL right now than the Tennessee Titans.
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • It is associated with hallucinations, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking and behavior that impair daily functioning and can be disabling.
    Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
  • My childhood had left me with social anxiety and a disordered relationship with food.
    Bee Wilson, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shambolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shambolic. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

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!