1
: marked by chaos or being in a state of chaos : completely confused or disordered
a chaotic political race
After he became famous, his life became even more chaotic.
They may look chaotic and barbaric, but scrums are a critical and strategic part of the game, and they unfold and escalate according to hockey's venerated, unwritten rules of engagement.—
David Fleming
David FlemingTo the uninitiated visitor, the seemingly chaotic energy of a typical Thai market may give the impression of a free-for-all, …—Diane Ruengsom
Diane Ruengsom2
mathematics
: having outcomes that can vary widely due to extremely small changes in initial conditions
In other words, what comes out of the program's equations is extremely sensitive to what goes in. And that, as any mathematician would recognize, is one of the hallmarks of chaotic systems.—Ingrid Wickelgren
Ingrid WickelgrenA physical system—a weather system, say—is chaotic if a very slight change in initial conditions sends the system off on a very different course.—Physics Today
Physics TodayExamples of chaotic in a Sentence
a chaotic cellar sorely in need of some straightening up
Recent Examples on the Web
Saturday's Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying at the Baku City Street Circuit turned out to be a chaotic session, given its record-breaking six red flags, more than any previous Formula One qualifying round.
—Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
After days of outrage over a series of sweeping ICE raids, authorities confirmed one individual died during a chaotic raid on a California farm.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 20 Sep. 2025
In Tirana, Deputy Mayor Anuela Ristani has introduced a child-friendly lens to the planning processes of a chaotic city, with unparalleled investments in public playgrounds, school streets and traffic gardens.
—Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The chaotic exit marked the official end of the United States' 20-year war in the country.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chaotic
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Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
After days of outrage over a series of sweeping ICE raids, authorities confirmed one individual died during a chaotic raid on a California farm.
—Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 20 Sep. 2025
In Tirana, Deputy Mayor Anuela Ristani has introduced a child-friendly lens to the planning processes of a chaotic city, with unparalleled investments in public playgrounds, school streets and traffic gardens.
—Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The chaotic exit marked the official end of the United States' 20-year war in the country.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chaotic
Cite this Entry
“Chaotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaotic. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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