shambolic

adjective

sham·​bol·​ic sham-ˈbä-lik How to pronounce shambolic (audio)
Synonyms of shambolic
chiefly British
: obviously disorganized or confused

Examples of shambolic in a Sentence

a shambolic system of public transportation
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The book’s shambolic rhythms pay off, as pressure slowly builds on Josh to join in instead of judging. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2026 The scene unfolds with shambolic good humor, starting with an exchange that sends the company scrambling to sort out who’s who. — Rhoda Feng, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026 And England had been desperately poor for long spells of the game, tense, panicked, shambolic in defence. — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 1 July 2026 That his was an almost farcical and shambolic attempt at an autogolpe does not change the gravity of what happened. — Jamelle Bouie, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shambolic

Word History

Etymology

probably from shambles

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shambolic was in 1970

Rhymes for shambolic

See All Rhymes for shambolic

Browse Nearby Words

shamblingly
shambolic
shame
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shambolic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shambolic. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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