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n. A violent or turbulent situation: caught in the maelstrom of war.

n. A whirlpool of extraordinary size or violence.

n. A large and violent whirlpool.

n. Any violent or turbulent situation.

n. A celebrated whirlpool on the coast of Norway.

n. An uncontrollable agitated or confusedly disordered state or situation.

n. A celebrated whirlpool or violent current in the Arctic ocean, near the western coast of Norway, between the islands Moskenäsö and Mosken, formerly supposed to suck in and destroy everything that approached it at any time, but now known not to be dangerous except under certain conditions.

n. Hence Any resistless movement; any influence or passion which makes victims of all who come within its power: as, the maelstrom of fashion or of speculation; the maelstrom of dissipation or of crime.

n. a powerful circular current of water (usually the result of conflicting tides)

"Baldwin honestly tries to describe the result, but expressive insight into that emotional maelstrom is not a power within his possession and is not really on offer here."

stream    current   

Charybdis   

whirlpool    vortex   

whirlwind    whirlpool    vortex    kaleidoscope    welter    whirl    eddy    swirl    outpouring    jumble