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
or 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

Synonyms of chaos

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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.
Advertisement Within minutes, the festival grounds descended into chaos. — Philip Wang, Time, 19 Oct. 2026 That’s where the chaos begins, in this collision of irreconcilable languages, where everyone claims to speak on behalf of everyone else. — Ollivier Pourriol, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026 Most of the chaos started with college football, but some of it carried over into the NFL. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026 The opening of the III Points fest sounded a sour note for thousands of fans who poured into Wynwood for a weekend of music only to experience ticketing issues, delays and chaos among the crowd. — Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 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

Phrases Containing chaos

Browse Nearby Words

Chao Phraya
chaos
Chaoshan
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chaos.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaos. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chaos

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chaos

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