Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Resembling or of the nature of chaos; confused; without order.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Resembling chaos; confused.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Filled with chaos.
  • adjective Extremely disorganized or in disarray.
  • adjective mathematics Highly sensitive to starting conditions, so that a small change to them may yield a very different outcome.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective lacking a visible order or organization
  • adjective completely unordered and unpredictable and confusing
  • adjective of or relating to a sensitive dependence on initial conditions

Etymologies

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Examples

  • As I commented in an earlier post before I realized this one was up, my favorite money quote from the story by Mark Brunswick, Paul Walsh and Bob Von Sternberg at the Star Tribune: "The campaign said that it feared what it called a chaotic 'Florida situation' and that it is likely to go to the court today."

    Coleman Seeks Court Order To Stop Vote Count 2009

  • And I have to say also that Iranians know three political situations -- dictatorship, revolution, and what I call chaotic democracy.

    CNN Transcript Dec 27, 2009 2009

  • The campaign said that it feared what it called a chaotic "Florida situation" and that it is likely to go to the court today.

    Franken Gets Big Win At Canvass Board 2009

  • Some passengers used emergency chutes while others clambered down wings in what they described as a chaotic scene in the smoke-filled ravine.

    Jet-Crash Clues: Crosswind, Brakes 2008

  • Rather, it is much more what we call a chaotic pattern.

    The Buddhist Concept of Merit: Does Happiness Need To Be Earned? 1999

  • Accompanied with an extreme sense of smell (I smell things that aren't there) and what I call chaotic thoughts.

    [Help] Most Recent Posts crazy_beatc 2010

  • Accompanied with an extreme sense of smell (I smell things that aren't there) and what I call chaotic thoughts.

    [Help] Most Recent Posts crazy_beatc 2010

  • Gross National Product counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage … It counts the destruction of the redwood and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl ...

    Prosperity Is More Than Just Money Peter Mandelson 2010

  • MR. LEHRER: Is it fair to say, then, that the miscalculation resulted in chaotic situation that existed immediately after for awhile and got – immediately after the invasion and all that sort of stuff?

    We Used To Leave The Blue Lights On And There Was A Beat | ATTACKERMAN 2009

  • How can you dislike a town where everybody jaywalks and the libramientos are known locally as the "other cemetary" and people drive in chaotic but workable distraction and many folks are short and fat and ridiculed by the overcompensating snobbish Highlanders as redneck morons and eating and drinking and dancing are local sports.

    Driving From San Crist�bal de Las Casas to Lake Chapala 2009

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  • And we listen

    To what is in us of hidden longing

    For an ambiguous street: I have my life over there

    My life that caravans made then went on their way

    And here I have my life as my bread's worth

    And I have my questions about a fate a passing

    Present tortures, and I have

    A beautiful chaotic tomorrow.

    - Mahmoud Darwish, 'We Walk On The Bridge'.

    July 20, 2009