bedlam

Meaning

1. A place or situation of chaotic uproar, and where confusion prevails.
2. (obsolete) An insane person; a lunatic; a madman.
3. (obsolete) A lunatic asylum; a madhouse.

Synonyms

chaos

madhouse

pandemonium

mess

tumult

turmoil

insane asylum

confusion

topsy-turvyness

fracas

topsy-turvydom

din

inferno

jumble

ado

noise

nuisance

nuthouse

pother

rowdiness

sanitarium

shambles

trouble

balagan

end of the line

psychiatric hospital

lunatic asylum

babel

bustle

clamour

commotion

farrago

flurry

fuss

hell

hob

hodgepodge

hubbub

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbɛdləm/

Etymology

From Bedlam, alternative name of the English lunatic asylum, Bethlem Royal Hospital (royal hospital from 1375, mental hospital from 1403) (earlier St Mary of Bethlehem outside Bishopsgate, hospice in existence from 1329, priory established 1247), since used to mean “a place or situation of madness and chaos”. Bedlam as name of hospital attested 1450.
Phonologically, corruption of Bethlem, itself a corruption of Bethlehem (the Biblical town), from Ancient Greek Βηθλεέμ (Bēthleém) from Biblical Hebrew בֵּית לֶחֶם (bêṯ leḥem, literally “house of bread”).