havoc 1 of 2

noun

ˈha-vək How to pronounce havoc (audio)
Definition of havocnext
1
as in hell
a state in which everything is out of order computer network problems created havoc throughout the office

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in devastation
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless the powerful hurricane wreaked havoc all along the coast

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

havoc

2 of 2

verb

as in to ravage

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of havoc
Noun
His counterpressing has been a major aid to the way the team plays, and Balogun’s ability to run in behind the lines and cause havoc in the box opens space and makes things easier for the attacking players around him. — Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 5 July 2026 You’d be forgiven for thinking far fewer of the destructive predators are causing havoc, however. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 July 2026
Verb
The change launches biannual arguments about the practice, wrecks havoc on sleep and has inspired voters to go to California polls. — Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 7 Mar. 2026 Even after hours of fast traveling, horseback riding, and slowly jogging from point A to point B, there were more quests to find, gear to loot, and havoc to wreak. — PC Magazine, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for havoc
Recent Examples of Synonyms for havoc
  1. hell
  2. devastation
  3. ravage
  4. chaos
  5. destruction
  6. plunder
  7. mess
  8. loss
Noun
  • In Harrenhal, Aemond is plagued by nightmares of his (not) dead brother dragging him to hell.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • After being a key to the victory of the Trojan War, Greek hero Odysseus (Matt Damon) goes to hell and back trying to get home to his wife (Anne Hathaway) and son (Tom Holland) in Nolan's brutal yet introspective adaptation of Homer's epic poem.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 17 July 2026
Definition of hell
Noun
  • Burnham has criticized Starmer's approach to Israel's war with Hamas and the devastation of Gaza.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • Their stories recount the devastation to homes and businesses, life in temporary shelters, and the difficult process of rebuilding or relocating.
    — Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
Definition of devastation
Verb
  • As part of these clashes, Israel twice launched significant air strikes on Iran—the second time ravaging Iran’s air defenses.
    — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • Although the speech part of her brain was ravaged, the music area remains intact, Kelly told me.
    — Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
Definition of ravage
Noun
  • As fans crowded around phones, McDonald and Kline hoisted the television so the watch party could continue - a small act of levity and camaraderie amid chaos.
    — Meredith Nierman, NPR, 17 July 2026
  • One is trying to create chaos by insisting that fraud exists.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Definition of chaos
Noun
  • Growing concerns over wildfire preparedness The destruction of Collins has renewed questions about whether Ontario’s wildfire strategy is keeping pace with increasingly intense fire seasons.
    — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • Two Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill to protect federal artworks, including New Deal-era masterpieces, from possible sale or destruction.
    — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of destruction
Verb
  • Historians theorize that, among several other factors, these sea peoples plundering the Mediterranean helped usher in a Dark Age where the ability to read and write was lost in Ancient Greece.
    — Eliana Dockterman, Time, 17 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, Lohar’s surviving mercenaries are plundering villages.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
Definition of plunder
Noun
  • Stormwater can also wash away gravel and mulch, leaving you with a mess to clean up after every rain.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 19 July 2026
  • Swap a mess of tiny tea candles for a larger scented candle styled on a tray with a pair of decorative matches.
    — Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 18 July 2026
Definition of mess
Noun
  • The central message is the acceptance that suffering is a necessary stage in the process of love, loss and personal growth — of life itself.
    — Colin Millar, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • The Marlins, whose fifth straight loss matched their season high, closed the gap to 8-6 in the ninth inning thanks to Griffin Conine’s three-run homer, his seventh, off Craig Yoho.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 19 July 2026
Definition of loss

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havoc
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Cite this Entry

“Havoc.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/havoc. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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