pandemonium

[pan-duh-moh-nee-uhm]

noun

1. wild uproar or unrestrained disorder; tumult or chaos.

   Synonyms: babel, turmoil, bedlam

2. a place or scene of riotous uproar or utter chaos.

   Synonyms: babel, turmoil, bedlam

3. (often initial capital letter),  the abode of all the demons.

4. hell.

pandemonium

/ ˌpændɪˈmɒnɪk, ˌpændɪˈməʊnɪəm /

noun

1. wild confusion; uproar

2. a place of uproar and chaos

Other Word Forms

• pandemoniac adjective
• pandemoniacal adjective
• pandemonic adjective
• pandemonian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pandemonium¹

1660–70; after Pandaemonium, Milton's name in Paradise Lost for the capital of hell; pan-, demon, -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of pandemonium¹

C17: coined by Milton to designate the capital of hell in Paradise Lost, from _pan- + Greek daimōn _demon

Example Sentences

Kiffin, now the head coach at Ole Miss, has somehow caused an outbreak of total pandemonium at three of the proudest college football programs in the country—including his own.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Amid the pandemonium, Cobolli comforted Bergs as his distraught opponent sat on the Belgium team bench with his head in his hands.

Read more on BBC

In the immediate wake of the shooting, pandemonium overtakes the little street in Ocala.

Read more on Salon

The new ownership was supposed to bring an end to the pandemonium, but it hasn't.

Read more on BBC

On a brutal, confounding decision from the Phillies reliever, that unleashed pandemonium inside Dodger Stadium.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anarchy 
• brouhaha 
• chaos 
• hue and cry 
• ruckus 
• tumult 
• uproar