shambolic

Definition of shambolicnext
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 In January 2001, fed up with the shambolic and corrupt presidential rule of the former Manila mayor and movie star Joseph Estrada, Manileños once again took to EDSA in what became known as the Second People Power Revolution. Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 That his was an almost farcical and shambolic attempt at an autogolpe does not change the gravity of what happened. Jamelle Bouie, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026 Into this pastoral scene of modern irrigation and baseball training sweeps Walter Matthau, driving a big, old, shambolic convertible, well past its prime but, like its driver, still possessing more than a bit of charm. Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025 But as inspiring as Mamdani’s rise has been, DSA’s shambolic life on the national level should be a cautionary tale for the British leftists. Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 4 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shambolic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shambolic
Adjective
  • Set in 1953 after the titular dictator’s passing, the film revels in the chaotic, messy, bumbling power struggle that ensues among figures like Nikita Khrushchev (Steve Buscemi) and Georgy Malenkov (Jeffrey Tambor).
    Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The venue was the sprawling Serena Hotel, an oasis within what is already a bubble provided by Islamabad, a leafy city of broad boulevards that feels detached from the rest of Pakistan, an often chaotic country of 240 million people.
    Saeed Shah, Time, 13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • People with the disorder usually experience a combination of psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations, delusions, and disorderly behavior.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Cincinnati's Opening Day ended with disorderly behavior and arrests at The Banks and elsewhere.
    David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • In Maryland, nearly 6% of residents exhibit disordered gambling behavior, up from 4% two years prior, a 2024 study backed by the Maryland Department of Health found.
    Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The New Yorker Consume Me This semi-autobiographical game by director Jenny Jiao Hsia explores her experiences with dieting and disordered eating as an Asian American teenager in the early 2010s, using gameplay mechanics to reflect the emotional and cultural pressures surrounding these issues.
    Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 9 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shambolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shambolic. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

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