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
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that many companies raised prices in 2025 due to Trump’s chaotic tariffs and would continue doing so in 2026 as stockpiles expired.
—Angela Alsobrooks, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
The Ryder Cup decision by the PGA of America was not a surprise given the last five chaotic days involving Woods dating to his Friday arrest.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
No more digging through one big chaotic group chat to find that one message.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Mitski’s own reputation may have contributed as well, as a rowdier, more chaotic artist and audience probably wouldn’t have gotten the green light.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chaotic
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.
Angela Alsobrooks, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026
The Ryder Cup decision by the PGA of America was not a surprise given the last five chaotic days involving Woods dating to his Friday arrest.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
No more digging through one big chaotic group chat to find that one message.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Mitski’s own reputation may have contributed as well, as a rowdier, more chaotic artist and audience probably wouldn’t have gotten the green light.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chaotic
Cite this Entry
“Chaotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaotic. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
