bedlam

noun

ˈbed-ləm How to pronounce bedlam (audio)
Definition of bedlamnext
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bedlam The Montreal Canadiens can book their ticket to the Eastern Conference final Saturday night in what will be absolute bedlam in that arena after taking care of business on the road yet again. — Arpon Basu, New York Times, 15 May 2026 At one point during the bedlam, a firework appears to be set off in the windshield wiper cowl, with sparks flying into the cruiser's windshield. — Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026 Grand Casino Arena erupted, and bedlam broke out in the Irish half of the stadium as Sherman scored in overtime to send his squad to the semifinals. — Andrew Cornelius, Twin Cities, 5 Mar. 2026 Boise State isn’t immune to the struggles brought on by the transfer bedlam. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 1 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bedlam
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bedlam
  1. madhouse
  2. circus
  3. commotion
Noun
  • Whereas this evening in the Spanish Gothic madhouse of the United Theater, most every song from Melanie’s Hadean pageant is received with near word-perfect communalism.
    — Matt Thompson, SPIN, 13 July 2026
  • Headphones are often my saving grace in this madhouse.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 17 Apr. 2026
Definition of madhouse
Noun
  • Highlights are a circus, wood-chopping contests, rabbit costume contest, sing-along.
    — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026
  • One of the benefits of bringing Lane Kiffin to LSU as head coach has already paid off from a marketing standpoint, thanks to the circus-like atmosphere that followed him from Ole Miss to Baton Rouge towards the end of last season.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of circus
Noun
  • Sleep was beginning to finally visit the insomniacs and drunkards of T—in central Manila when a commotion louder than the usual domestic squabbles erupted from the room above Mang Calixto’s bakery.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026
  • And, true to form, Clowney arrives with commotion and fanfare for great things ahead.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of commotion

Browse Nearby Words

bedizens
bedlam
bedlams
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bedlam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bedlam. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bedlam

Nglish: Translation of bedlam for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bedlam

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of zeugma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All