Maelstrom

MAYL-struhm

Definition

  1. (noun) A powerful, turbulent whirlpool.
  2. A situation of great confusion, chaos, or violent turmoil.

Example

The company’s sudden bankruptcy created a maelstrom of legal battles and financial uncertainty.

Fun Fact

The word “maelstrom” comes from a famous and feared whirlpool off the coast of Norway, first recorded in Dutch as maelstroom, meaning “grinding stream.” Though it originally described literal oceanic whirlpools, today it’s often used metaphorically to depict emotional, political, or societal chaos. Edgar Allan Poe and Jules Verne both used the term in literature, cementing its dramatic and powerful imagery.