Synonyms
Examples of bedlam in a Sentence
The park had never had so many visitors at one time. It was total bedlam.
French physician Philippe Pinel was instrumental in the transformation of bedlams from filthy hellholes to well-ordered, humane institutions.
Recent Examples on the Web
In an effort to contain the bedlam, Gaza’s municipal police force (which falls under Hamas’ control but has no connection to the group’s military wing) took on the job of securing aid convoys’ passage through the strip.
—
Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
And then, the bedlam began, led by Tomlinson, a junior forward from Blue Springs South.
—Randy Covitz, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bedlam 
Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2024
And then, the bedlam began, led by Tomlinson, a junior forward from Blue Springs South.
—Randy Covitz, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bedlam
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Cite this Entry
“Bedlam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bedlam. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bedlam
noun
bed·lam
ˈbed-ləm 
: a place or scene of uproar and confusion
Etymology
from Middle English Bedlem "Bethlehem"
Word Origin
Around 1402 the home of a religious community in London was turned into a hospital for the mentally ill. This new hospital kept the name of the community and was known as the Hospital of Saint Mary of Bethlehem. People soon shortened this name to Bethlehem. In Middle English, though, the town of Bethlehem in Palestine was called Bedlem or Bethlem, so this was the pronunciation used for the hospital's name. In time the name Bedlem or Bedlam came to refer to any home for the mentally ill. Today we use bedlam for any scene of noise and confusion like that found in the early hospitals for the mentally ill.
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