shambolic

adjective

sham·​bol·​ic sham-ˈbä-lik How to pronounce shambolic (audio)
chiefly British
: obviously disorganized or confused

Examples of shambolic in a Sentence

a shambolic system of public transportation
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.
The shambolic nature of his plots has a Scheherazade flavor, a storyteller unfurling a tale bit by bit with no aim other than keeping the reader invested moment-to-moment, failure being the penalty of death. John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2025 And yet, despite two decades of anxiety about being of a certain age, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy finds our shambolic protagonist having achieved her heteronormative happily-ever-after. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2025 The second goal was even more shambolic, with a simple pass down the flank opening up a two-on-one for Everton and Onana only pushing Jack Harrison’s shot into the air. Laurie Whitwell, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025 During Boeing’s difficult 2024, whistleblowers from within the company came forward with complaints about shambolic internal processes in the production of its 737 and 787 aircraft. David Hodari, NBC News, 3 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shambolic

Word History

Etymology

probably from shambles

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shambolic was in 1970

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Cite this Entry

“Shambolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shambolic. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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