Terkacau

Terkacau is an Indonesian adjective describing a state of disorder or chaos, where arrangements, plans, or systems are disrupted and not functioning as expected. It can be used to describe situations, places, or processes that have lost order, and is common in news reporting, analysis, and everyday speech.

The term derives from kacau, meaning messy or disturbed, with the prefix ter- indicating a state resulting from a condition or event. As a stative expression, terkacau describes how something stands or feels rather than an active action. It can function as a predicate in sentences such as “Situasi itu terkacau” or “Keadaan jalan raya terkacau setelah hujan,” and it is often used with intensifiers or modifiers like sangat terkacau or menjadi terkacau.

Usage and nuance: Terkacau is a relatively formal-to-neutral descriptor that emphasizes disruption rather than mere slight imperfection. It covers a broad range of domains, including traffic, events, governance, and personal plans. Common synonyms include kacau, berantakan, and kacau-bilau, while antonyms include rapi, tertib, and teratur. Examples include: “Lalu lintas menjadi terkacau karena banjir,” “Rencana acara itu menjadi terkacau akibat gangguan teknis,” and “Keuangan perusahaan terkacau setelah beberapa kuartal.”