chaotic

[key-ot-ik]

adjective

1. completely confused or disordered.

   a chaotic mass of books and papers.

   Antonyms: systematic, orderly

Other Word Forms

• chaotically adverb
• nonchaotic adjective
• nonchaotically adverb
• semichaotic adjective
• semichaotically adverb
• unchaotic adjective
• unchaotically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of chaotic¹

First recorded in 1705–15; chao(s) + -tic

Example Sentences

Accompanying Hedda throughout is a choir of scooping notes, which by the film’s chaotic finale crescendo into a slightly horrific melee of wild vocals.

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Some of the structural issues, at least, are settled, but a chaotic conference could set the tone and roadmap on where the start-up party goes from here.

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In a statement, the Home Office said it did not want to replicate the mistakes of the past, "where rushed plans have led to unsafe and chaotic situations that impacts the local community".

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Officers arrived to a chaotic scene, according to their radio dispatch feeds.

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"Because of the chaotic nature of the evacuation, information was lost and some checks weren't run until the migrants were already out of Afghanistan."

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Related Words

• anarchic 
• disorganized 
• helter-skelter 
• lawless 
• tumultuous 
• turbulent