as in havoc
a state in which everything is out of order
the boy's room is in such chaos that it looks as though a tornado had struck
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Recent Examples of chaos
Football’s structure allows for chaos, and the two work together to suck us in.
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Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
The radical republic that replaced it bore little resemblance to the partner of 1778, having descended into chaos, executions, and ideological extremism that threatened neighboring states.
—Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Epic Charter School’s superintendent of finance presented an update to the school’s board on April 9 in just over one minute, without a hint at the chaos brewing behind the scenes.
—Jennifer Palmer, Oklahoma Watch, 9 Jan. 2026
But the harder the novice looks — and the greater the chaos inside them longing for order, even of a diabolical nature — the more clearly the horror will appear.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chaos
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chaos
Noun
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Christian Barmore created a little more havoc against the run and pass than usual, but his only pressure was contained to the second quarter.—
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Dewan shared Fillion's sense of the havoc Monica is likely to cause in season 8.—
Noun
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Rather than letting those items pile up in a cluttered mess, opt for a compact organizer with enough storage to hold all the essentials.—
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And what a distraction from the mess he’s created!—
Noun
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The result also spotlights conference championships’ awkward fit in the current system, particularly given the fact that conference expansion has led to jumbles atop each league’s standings.—
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Ray’s most chaotic photograms—jumbles that push out of the frame or look like time bombs ready to explode—find echoes in his films, projected on the back walls, a show in themselves.—
Noun
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Multiple helpers can slow response during urgent scams and create confusion when fast decisions matter.—
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The category confusion continued this year.—
Noun
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They were doomed to perish in the fires of hell.—
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Shown with a gun in hand and looking disheveled, Creasy seems like he’s been through hell and back.—
Noun
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Amid the disorder, the regime turned to a familiar playbook of crushing dissent.—
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Alcazar said the unrest underscores the danger of leaving federal agents to operate amid disorder without local law enforcement support, warning that the absence of a visible police presence increases the risk of escalation and injury for officers and civilians alike.—
Cite this Entry
“Chaos.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaos. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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