maelstrom

[meyl-struhm]

noun

1. a large, powerful, or violent whirlpool.

2. a restless, disordered, or tumultuous state of affairs.

   the maelstrom of early morning traffic.

   Synonyms: bedlam, pandemonium, tumult

3. (initial capital letter),  a famous hazardous whirlpool off the NW coast of Norway.

maelstrom

¹

/ ˈmeɪlstrəʊm /

noun

1. a large powerful whirlpool

2. any turbulent confusion

Maelstrom

²

/ ˈmeɪlstrəʊm /

noun

1. a strong tidal current in a restricted channel in the Lofoten Islands off the NW coast of Norway

Word History and Origins

Origin of maelstrom¹

1550–60 maelstrom for def. 3; < early Dutch maelstroom, now spelling maalstroom, representing mal ( en ) to grind + stroom stream. See meal ², stream

Word History and Origins

Origin of maelstrom¹

C17: from obsolete Dutch maelstroom, from malen to grind, whirl round + stroom _stream

Example Sentences

France dealt with similar conditions in Exeter against Ireland and, by a smaller margin, also found a way through the maelstrom.

From BBC

But politics found them, and provided what may have seemed like clarity in a maelstrom of anything but.

From Los Angeles Times

“It was a maelstrom of topic A to topic G to topic C to topic Q,” said a senior SSA official who was in the room.

From Salon

It was into this maelstrom that Potter stepped.

From BBC

Through a family spokesperson, Simon Patterson also told the court of his grief - which has been compounded by the "abrasive" court process and at-times "deplorable" media maelstrom which followed the crimes.

From BBC

Related Words

• chaos 
• turbulence 
• turmoil