chance-medley

noun

chance-med·​ley ˈchan(t)s-ˈmed-lē 

1

: accidental homicide not entirely without fault of the killer but without evil intent

2

: haphazard action : confusion

Synonyms

• chaos
• confusion
• disarrangement
• disarray
• dishevelment
• disorder
• disorderedness
• disorderliness
• disorganization
• free-for-all
• havoc
• heck
• hell
• jumble
• mare's nest
• mess
• messiness
• misorder
• muddle
• muss
• shambles
• snake pit
• tumble
• welter

Examples of chance-medley in a Sentence

priceless artworks that disappeared in the chance-medley of World War II's closing days

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French chance medlée mingled chance

First Known Use

circa 1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1