bedlam
noun
bed·lam ˈbed-ləm 
1
: a place, scene, or state of uproar and confusion
There was bedlam in the streets after the verdict was announced.
2
or Bedlam : an asylum for the mentally ill
3
obsolete : madman, lunatic
Synonyms
- babel
- circus
- madhouse
- scrum [British]
- three-ring circus
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The park had never had so many visitors at one time. It was total bedlam. French physician Philippe Pinel was instrumental in the transformation of bedlams from filthy hellholes to well-ordered, humane institutions.
Recent Examples on the Web Cleveland had just come off of an improbable 7-6 victory over the Twins, at the hands of an epic Josh Naylor 2-run walk-off homer that capped the evening, unleashing bedlam. 
Ashley Bastock, cleveland, 30 June 2022 This theorem cannot be evaluated until a single noise (and body) can be isolated from the bedlam. Naomi B. Ware, The New Yorker, 6 June 2022 Somehow, even after the latest bedlam at Yale Law School, the raging students continue to claim the moral high ground, complaining about the mere presence of police at a recent Federalist Society event. Aron Ravin, National Review, 3 Apr. 2022 Several Yale players remained on their sideline to watch the bedlam. Dom Amore, courant.com, 20 Nov. 2021 At times, Karl blames this bedlam on the people around Trump rather than the president himself. Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2021 Oklahoma State's bedlam victory over Oklahoma not only earned them a rare victory over their state rivals, but sent a ripple effect in the coaching carousel that's still being felt this week. Scooby Axson, USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2021 The court swelled with fans, including Todd Frazier, the former Yankees and Mets third baseman and a Rutgers alumnus, who in the bedlam had to turn back to retrieve his young son. Billy Witz, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2021 The concert organizers canceled this show because of the bedlam, Rolling Stone said. Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2021 See More
Ashley Bastock, cleveland, 30 June 2022 This theorem cannot be evaluated until a single noise (and body) can be isolated from the bedlam. Naomi B. Ware, The New Yorker, 6 June 2022 Somehow, even after the latest bedlam at Yale Law School, the raging students continue to claim the moral high ground, complaining about the mere presence of police at a recent Federalist Society event. Aron Ravin, National Review, 3 Apr. 2022 Several Yale players remained on their sideline to watch the bedlam. Dom Amore, courant.com, 20 Nov. 2021 At times, Karl blames this bedlam on the people around Trump rather than the president himself. Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2021 Oklahoma State's bedlam victory over Oklahoma not only earned them a rare victory over their state rivals, but sent a ripple effect in the coaching carousel that's still being felt this week. Scooby Axson, USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2021 The court swelled with fans, including Todd Frazier, the former Yankees and Mets third baseman and a Rutgers alumnus, who in the bedlam had to turn back to retrieve his young son. Billy Witz, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2021 The concert organizers canceled this show because of the bedlam, Rolling Stone said. Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Bedlam, popular name for the Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem, London, an asylum for the mentally ill, from Middle English Bedlem Bethlehem
First Known Use
1522, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Kids Definition
bedlam
noun
bed·lam ˈbed-ləm
: a place, scene, or state of uproar and confusion
bedlam 1 of 2
adjective
as in psychotic
having or showing a very abnormal or sick state of mind bedlam ravings that suggest that the man is in need of some serious therapy Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- psychotic
- lunatic
- mad
- insane
- nuts
- maniac
- mental
- maniacal
- crazy
- gaga
- psycho
- crazed
- paranoid
- disturbed
- unhinged
- haywire
- deranged
- bonkers
- demented
- loony
- ballistic
- cuckoo
- strange
- wacko
- irrational
- brainsick
- certifiable
- cracked
- around the bend
- bughouse
- screwy
- nutty
- moonstruck
- barmy
- batty
- unbalanced
- looney
- daffy
- paranoidal
- daft
- wacky
- crackers
- meshuga
- crackpot
- bats
- loco
- scatty
- frantic
- whacky
- eccentric
- meshuggah
- whacko
- loony tunes
- kooky
- meshugah
- crackbrained
- delirious
- fey
- looney tunes
- distraught
- meshugge
- depressed
- hysterical
- odd
- balmy
- foolish
- unreasonable
- distracted
- out to lunch
- unsound
- obsessed
- out of one's mind
- kookie
- schizoid
- neurotic
- non compos mentis
- disordered
- hysteric
- fruity
- schizophrenic
- cranky
- off one's gourd
- off one's rocker
- paranoiac
- wud
- off one's head
- berserk
- off
- delusionary
- loopy
- out of one's head
- queer
- aberrant
- nuclear
- sociopathic
- frenzied
- delusional
- touched
- oddball
- amok
- dotty
- pixilated
- bananas
- paranoic
- raving
- tetched
- witless
- ape
- potty
- senseless
- obsessive-compulsive
- amuck
- teched
- pixillated
- monomaniac
- monomaniacal
- wigged-out
- fixated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sane
- sound
- rational
- compos mentis
- reasonable
- clear
- balanced
- normal
- uncrazy
- lucid
- sensible
- judicious
- wise
- healthy
- unneurotic
- well-adjusted
bedlam
2 of 2noun
as in madhouse
a place of uproar or confusion there's no way I can get any reading done in this bedlam, so I'm going to the library Synonyms & Similar Words
- madhouse
- commotion
- circus
- pandemonium
- babel
- chaos
- mess
- bustle
- turmoil
- racket
- ruckus
- scrum
- din
- tumult
- clatter
- three-ring circus
- disarray
- noise
- brouhaha
- hubbub
- clamor
- disorder
- havoc
- confusion
- disarrangement
- shambles
- muss
- hell
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- paradise
- utopia
- heaven
- orderliness
- organization
- peace
- calm
- lull
- order
- silence
- respite
- arcadia
- quiet
- hush
- stillness