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
Social Security problems The chaotic situation around DOGE has raised concerns that federal programs such as Social Security that many Americans rely on could be impacted.
—Zac Anderson, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Carter arrives as a fumbling, awkward, lovable med student—the audience surrogate in the chaotic and intense environment of a fictional Chicago emergency ward.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
Why Talent Alone Won’t Cut It: The Role Of Engineering Standards And Best Practices
Many companies mistakenly believe that hiring top-tier engineers automatically leads to high-quality software, but even the best engineers can’t thrive in a chaotic environment.
—Sebastian Avila, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Throughout this chaotic finale, Flea played trumpet, Rogers stared (seemingly awestruck) at Springsteen, Kaye tried to get the audience to clap as the ASL interpreters joined the fracas.
—Caryn Rose, Variety, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chaotic
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Zac Anderson, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Carter arrives as a fumbling, awkward, lovable med student—the audience surrogate in the chaotic and intense environment of a fictional Chicago emergency ward.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
Why Talent Alone Won’t Cut It: The Role Of Engineering Standards And Best Practices
Many companies mistakenly believe that hiring top-tier engineers automatically leads to high-quality software, but even the best engineers can’t thrive in a chaotic environment.
—Sebastian Avila, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Throughout this chaotic finale, Flea played trumpet, Rogers stared (seemingly awestruck) at Springsteen, Kaye tried to get the audience to clap as the ASL interpreters joined the fracas.
—Caryn Rose, Variety, 27 Mar. 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 4 Apr. 2025.
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