If you describe a situation as a maelstrom, you mean that it is very confused or violent.
例句
...the maelstrom of ethnic hatreds and vendetta politics...種族仇恨與政治宿怨造成的大動(dòng)亂Inside, she was a maelstrom of churning emotions.她心中的情感似波濤洶涌，起伏不定。
英漢詞典釋義
n.
大漩渦
The canoe was tossed about in the maelstrom.獨(dú)木舟在旋渦之中搖晃打轉(zhuǎn)。The river takes a headlong plunge into a maelstrom of rocks and boulders.河水急流而下， 入一個(gè)漂礫的漩渦中。
英英詞典釋義
Noun
1. a powerful circular current of water (usually the resulting of conflicting tides)