noun
bedlam
BED-lum/ˈbedləm/
A scene or state of noisy confusion and disorder.
The rehearsal descends into bedlam amid shouting, crashing cymbals, and falling equipment.
Etymology
Bethlehem was part of the name of a London hospital that housed people with mental illness. Its shortened name became a general term for a scene of noisy confusion.
In context
it was absolute bedlam thousands of tourists were flooding off the ships in every direction a human tide of matching t shirts and wide brimmed hats
More examples
- There was bedlam at the station after every train was canceled.
- The teacher restores order after several minutes of bedlam.
- Moving day turns the quiet house into bedlam.