The noun chaos is defined as “a state of utter confusion and disorder.” It is applied to a broad range of situations that lack organization. For example, a virtual work meeting wherein everyone talks over each other and there is no agenda laid out might be described as chaos. Or, on a larger and more serious scale, a poorly managed response to a disaster wherein nobody knows how to get the help they need might be described as chaos. The synonym pandemonium suggests unrestrained disorder marked by panic, uproar, and tumult. This noun, from Pandæmonium, the capital of the underworld in Milton’s Paradise Lost, burns a little hotter, so to speak. Pandemonium implies not just disorder, but also noisy, wild, and possibly even violent activity.

Perturb is a synonym of disturb, but, like most synonyms, the two terms are not exactly interchangeable. Disturb is the more common verb of the two, and it is often used to mean “to interrupt,” as in, Please don’t disturb me when I’m working, or, He kept the TV volume low because he didn’t want to disturb his wife’s nap. Perturb implies more agitation and sometimes annoyance or frustration. The careless actions or insensitive words of a person might perturb someone more attuned to their surroundings. Perturb has a distinct meaning in astronomy, where it means "to cause deviation of a celestial body from a regular orbit," as by the presence of one or more other bodies. This celestial disturbance is called perturbation.

When you treasure someone or something, you regard that person or thing as precious, the way you might regard literal treasure (you know, all those gold bars and jewels you have tucked in a giant chest somewhere). When you cherish someone, the affection and fondness is even greater. To cherish is to hold or treat as dear, or to feel love for. On this Mother's Day, many of us are taking time to express just how much we cherish our moms (though it's a tall order!). Cherish is also used to talk about clinging fondly to something, such as a special memory or a gift from a loved one: She cherished the summer she spent traveling with her kids and grandkids.