Chaotropism is a term that refers to the ability of certain substances to disrupt the structure of water molecules, leading to decreased stability of biological molecules. There are several words that can be used as synonyms for this term, with the most common being kosmotropy and chaostropy. Kosmotropic substances stabilise water molecules, while chaotropic substances destabilise them. Other similar terms include osmolytes, which are small molecules that help organisms maintain their shape and function in challenging environments, and compatible solutes, which are organic compounds that help to stabilise proteins and other macromolecules in extreme conditions. Additionally, water structure breakers and water structure makers are often used to describe chaotropic and kosmotropic substances, respectively.