Maelstrom Definition
Mael·strom (māl′strəm)
noun
- a famous strong, swirling tidal current off the W coast of Norway, hazardous to safe navigation
- any large or violent whirlpool
- a violently confused or dangerously agitated state of mind, emotion, affairs, etc.
Etymology: 17th-c. Du (now maalstroom) < malen, to grind, whirl round (akin to Ger mahlen: see mill) + stroom, a stream: first applied by 16th-c. Du geographers
maelstrom Synonyms
maelstrom
n.
Maelstrom Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- war: Cassandra is in the middle of the maelstrom of war, trying to make sense of the chaos that surrounds her.
- activity: Dougal's natural desire to rescue her plunges him into a maelstrom of criminal activities.
- emotion: Both Will and Sam vie for her heart, sending Amanda into a maelstrom of conflicting emotions, desires and uncertainty.
- noise: That's beautiful as in a raging, in your face, electric driven maelstrom of noise and fizzing energy, of course.
- life: For him, seeking some meaning from the maelstrom of modern life has never been a futile exercise.
- color: Shoot the gravity well a few times and it explodes in a maelstrom of pretty colors and particles.
Converse of object
- create: The swirling hype, promises of opportunity and mandates for change have created a maelstrom of uncertainty.
- whirl: Tho the tall buildings were almost useless in providing a refuge from the whirling maelstrom of the heavens.
- boil: Vessels of all kinds drifted aimlessly about, wrecking each other, and covering the boiling maelstrom of the harbor with their debris.
- survive: How will he and Kemi survive the maelstrom of their marriage?
- face: Mexico's most vulnerable citizens have faced a maelstrom of change beyond their capacity, or that of their government, to control.
- become: What if the wind came early and the whole shore became a maelstrom in moments, as can sometimes be the case?
Adjective modifier
- swirling: One painting depicts Britain surrounded by a swirling maelstrom coming from the mouth of a man who resembles Adolf Hitler.
- emotional: Hirsch's Tim is easiest for the audience to identify with, an ordinary kid thrown into an emotional maelstrom.
- political: Closer to home, Ryan highlights the political maelstrom in Britain under the impact of globalization.
- seething: The following chapter describes a seething maelstrom of revolution and drug wars, Central and South America.
- creative: At its best it brings together activists from different countries, backgrounds and campaigns in a creative maelstrom of debate and discussion.
- vast: It's a thriving hybrid, a conglomeration of 88 independent cities sprawling over a vast urban maelstrom.
Noun used with modifier
traffic: We passed down Oakley Road to Bromley Common, and entered the traffic maelstrom of Bromley.

