chaosnoun [ U ]
uk/ˈkeɪ.ɒs/us/ˈkeɪ.ɑːs/B2 a state of total confusion with no order:
Snow and ice have caused chaos on the roads.
Ever since our secretary walked out, the office has been in a state of total/utter chaos.
We muddled up the name labels and chaos ensued (= resulted).
More examples
- Our house is in complete chaos at the moment.
- There was chaos in the theatre when the bomb went off.
- Computer failure has created chaos in the passport office.
- Police are reporting traffic chaos on the motorways.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Social order & disorder
- anarchic
- anarchism
- anarchist
- anarchy
- ASBO
- breach
- disturb
- instability
- lawless
- mayhem
- organized chaos
- pandemonium
- pell-mell
- tinderbox
- turbulence
- turbulent
- turmoil
- unrest
- upheaval
- water cannon
See more results »
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Confusion, confusing and feeling confused