chaos

noun

cha·​os ˈkā-ˌäs How to pronounce chaos (audio)
Synonyms of chaosnext
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.
Over the last decade, that has happened a lot, making some degree of political chaos the new norm. Inaya Folarin Iman, CBS News, 19 May 2026 What was meant to keep teenagers out of trouble and causing chaos has instead reduced foot traffic and customers, one owner said. Charlotte Observer, 19 May 2026 From modern parenting struggles to social media trends and suburban chaos, the show delivers clean, candid comedy for couples, parents, and anyone navigating adulthood. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 19 May 2026 But all of that assumes that there will not be internal political chaos during the election as a result of the decisions that this government has made over the past few years. Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 19 May 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 21 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

chaos

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

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