as in havoc
a state in which everything is out of order
the boys' bedroom was in its usual disarray
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to disrupt
to undo the proper order or arrangement of
he had accidentally disarrayed his brother's CDs, leaving a telltale sign of borrowing without permission
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 disarray
Jay Blackman, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2025
Lauren Betts, who finished Sunday with a career-high 33 points and had her way with a Maryland frontcourt in disarray.
—Taylor Lyons, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2025
Michael Tarm, Anchorage Daily News, 18 June 2021
Eslam Negm is no stranger to disarray on the Suez Canal.
—NBC News, 2 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for disarray
Noun
The nature of the emergency wasn’t entirely clear, but video verified by NBC News shows the passenger cabin of the Boeing 787-8 in disarray after the incident, meal trays and food strewn about the floor and some of the aircraft’s headliner separated from the cabin’s ceiling.
—Verb
The hands-off approach in Washington is adding to disarray around the death penalty nationwide as pressure increases in some conservative states to find ways to continue executions amid shortages of the lethal-injection drugs.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for disarray
Noun
-
Protecting The Future Of 5G And AI The U.S. government has reported that Chinese nation-state threat actor groups have been causing havoc to U.S. critical infrastructure, including telecommunications services.—
-
For over a year, bird flu has caused havoc in the farming industry, leading to millions of dead birds and thousands of sick cows – and causing egg prices to run up.—
Verb
-
Then, in 2020, Covid restrictions disrupted her income flow and offended her sense of individual rights.—
-
The pair meet after the guy picks up a prescription for an extremely gnarly black eye, setting off a whirlwind romance that’s inevitably disrupted by — what else? — a grumpy parent.—
Noun
-
There was mess from the beginning, and his hands were in all of it.—
-
This business is old and a mess — there aren’t overnight solutions to any of these conversations — but the fact that these conversations are being had by such public figures is such a joy and will lead to change finally.—
Verb
-
The plan involved shuffling around existing crew assignments to free up two of the four seats on a SpaceX capsule that launched in late September, so that Wilmore and Williams could occupy the seats on the return trip.—
-
For all of the conversation late last year analyzing how quickly Sporting KC might be able to shuffle the chairs — or even Vermes praising the way his team played Wednesday — a swap at striker, a swap in the mentality at striker, transcends everything else.—
Noun
-
The constant chaos and the kind of unstructured nature of the team were a big part of that.—
-
However, chaos did erupt at a couple of events, including demonstrators trying to enter the state Capitol in Arizona, and an arrest was made in Washington, D.C., after a protester allegedly sprayed paint on a Trump supporter.—
Verb
-
This should not be confused as some kind of part-time mentoring role, like someone coming in to give a speech once in a while and then clearing off.—
-
Don't let the term air fryer confuse you: These things are pretty much just small convection ovens that use fans to circulate hot air around your food in order to cook it evenly and efficiently.—
Noun
-
Minimize noise and clutter Dr. Small says environmental triggers like loud sounds and jumbles of papers and clothing can increase sundowning symptoms.—
-
Owners’ names now read like jumbles of computer code, retirement homes or rock bands: Silver Sage, Dream Homes, Blue Apple, P Fin VII, Wref II, 3xs2, Vivid, Straight Red Lines, TKJK, Jags Proper.—
Verb
-
The following story contains graphic language that may disturb some readers.—
-
Warren called his sister and was disturbed by their short conversation.—
Cite this Entry
“Disarray.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disarray. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share