Chaos — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈkā-ˌäs/ cha·os

Meaning & Definition of Chaos

Chaos (noun)

  1. a state of utter confusion
  2. a confused mass or mixture
  3. a state of things in which chance is supreme; especially, the confused unorganized state of primordial matter before the creation of distinct forms

Chaos (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a state in which everything is out of order

    "the boy's room is in such chaos that it looks as though a tornado had struck"

    similar: chance-medley, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, dishevelment, disorder, disorderedness, disorderliness, disorganization, free-for-all, havoc, heck, hell, jumble, mare's nest, mess, messiness, misorder, muddle, muss, shambles, snake pit, tumble, welter
    related: anarchy, lawlessness, misrule, riot, knot, snarl, tangle, labyrinth, maze, web, maelstrom, storm, bollix, clutter, litter, mishmash, shuffle, hodgepodge, medley, miscellany, morass, motley
    opposite: order, orderliness
    near: method, pattern, plan, system

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Chaos

The most common words with a similar meaning to Chaos:

chance-medley, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, dishevelment, disorder, disorderedness, disorderliness, disorganization, free-for-all, havoc, heck, hell, jumble, mare's nest, mess, messiness, misorder, muddle, muss, shambles, snake pit, tumble, welter

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Chaos

Words with the opposite meaning of Chaos:

order, orderliness

Related Words for Chaos

anarchy, lawlessness, misrule, riot, knot, snarl, tangle, labyrinth, maze, web, maelstrom, storm, bollix, clutter, litter, mishmash, shuffle, hodgepodge, medley, miscellany, morass, motley

Near Antonyms of Chaos

method, pattern, plan, system

Origin & Etymology of Chaos

Latin, from Greek gum

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Chaos

Words & Phrases Containing Chaos

chaos theory

Frequently Asked Questions about Chaos

What does "Chaos" mean?

"Chaos" means a state of utter confusion. As a noun, it is defined as: a state of utter confusion.

What is another word for "Chaos"?

Other words for "Chaos" include chance-medley, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, dishevelment, disorder, disorderedness and disorderliness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Chaos" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Chaos"?

There are 46 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Chaos". Common alternatives include chance-medley, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, dishevelment, disorder, disorderedness, disorderliness, disorganization and free-for-all.

What is the opposite of "Chaos"?

Antonyms of "Chaos" include order and orderliness. Near antonyms include method, pattern, plan and system.

How do you use "Chaos" in a sentence?

Examples of "Chaos" in a sentence: "the boy's room is in such chaos that it looks as though a tornado had struck".

Is "Chaos" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Chaos" is a noun.

Is "Chaos" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Chaos" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Chaos"?

"Chaos" is pronounced /ˈkā-ˌäs/ and divided into syllables as cha·os.