maelstrom
Violent swirling water
A maelstrom is a powerful whirlpool—a churning vortex of water that can pull objects under.
The word comes from a famously turbulent strait off Norway's coast.
Figuratively, a maelstrom is any violent, chaotic situation that threatens to overwhelm: She found herself caught in a maelstrom of scandal and accusation.
The metaphor emphasizes being drawn into something beyond one's control.
Rotating fluid column
- eddyCircular counter-current
- gyreCircular or spiral motion
- swirlRotating, curving movement
- spiralCurve winding around center
whorl · undertow · current · turbulence · suction · funnel · sinkhole · backwash
State of utter confusion
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- bedlamState of wild disorder
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
- mayhemViolent disorder and destruction
havoc · tumult · frenzy · disorder · anarchy · disarray · confusion · commotion
Violent windstorm or turmoil
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- typhoonWestern Pacific hurricane
- tornadoViolent rotating windstorm
gale · squall · blizzard · thunderstorm · deluge · downpour · monsoon · whirlwind
Intensely forceful in feeling
- fierceViolently intense or aggressive
- violentInvolving physical force
- ferociousExtremely violent or aggressive
- overwhelmingIntensely excessive in force
powerful · furious · raging · consuming · extreme · explosive · forceful · relentless
Devastating, large-scale misfortune
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- ruinationState of complete destruction
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
- obliterationTotal destruction or erasure
disaster · cataclysm · havoc · ravage · wreckage · carnage · desolation · ruin
vortex
Rotating fluid column
spiral · whorl · undertow · current · turbulence · suction · funnel · sinkhole · backwash · countercurrent
pandemonium
State of utter confusion
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
- bedlamState of wild disorder
- upheavalViolent disturbance of order
mayhem · havoc · tumult · frenzy · disorder · anarchy · disarray · confusion · commotion · uproar
tempest
Violent windstorm or turmoil
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- cycloneRotating low-pressure storm system
- typhoonWestern Pacific hurricane
tornado · gale · squall · blizzard · thunderstorm · deluge · downpour · monsoon · whirlwind · cloudburst
vehement
Intensely forceful in feeling
- fierceViolently intense or aggressive
- violentInvolving physical force
- ferociousExtremely violent or aggressive
overwhelming · powerful · furious · raging · consuming · extreme · explosive · forceful · relentless · uncontrollable
catastrophe
Devastating, large-scale misfortune
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- ruinationState of complete destruction
- annihilationUtter, complete destruction
obliteration · disaster · cataclysm · havoc · ravage · wreckage · carnage · desolation · ruin · calamity
- commotioncommotion, clamor, brouhaha, bedlam, hullabaloo
- Ocean Phenomenatsunami, tides, rogue wave, ocean current, swells
- sea lorekraken, mermaids, mermaid, sea serpent, sirens
- swirlingwhirl, whirlpool, whirlwind, swirl, twirl
- water magicice spell, tidal wave, whirlpool, flood, tsunami
- sea stormshurricane, typhoon, tropical storm, cyclone, squall
maelstromcalm waters
Undisturbed body of liquid
still water · millpond · slack water · doldrums · dead calm