chaos

noun

cha·​os ˈkā-ˌäs How to pronounce chaos (audio)
Synonyms of chaos
1
a
: a state of utter confusion
the blackout caused chaos throughout the city
b
: a confused mass or mixture
a chaos of television antennas
2
a
often Chaos : a state of things in which chance is supreme
especially : the confused unorganized state of primordial matter before the creation of distinct forms compare cosmos
b
: the inherent unpredictability in the behavior of a complex natural system (such as the atmosphere, boiling water, or the beating heart)
3
obsolete : chasm, abyss

Examples of chaos in a Sentence

The loss of electricity caused chaos throughout the city. When the police arrived, the street was in total chaos. The country had descended into economic chaos.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Cotten, who had already established herself as a force vocally, stepped forward and matched him energy for energy, the two of them bouncing off each other with a kind of loose, joyful chaos. Theoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2026 And then the chaos and savagery begins. Denise Petski, Deadline, 6 Apr. 2026 His last day on the job was the day before the arrest that threw his life into chaos. Andy Rose, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026 Maybe a school really can build an ideal college basketball roster amid the topsy-turvy chaos of the transfer portal, paying players and top-to-bottom overhauls. ABC News, 6 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for chaos

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek — more at gum

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of chaos was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chaos.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaos. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

chaos

noun
cha·​os ˈkā-ˌäs How to pronounce chaos (audio)
: complete confusion
chaotic adjective
chaotically adverb

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