1
as in hell
a state in which everything is out of order
computer network problems created havoc throughout the office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
as in to ravage
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Opponents of the strong-mayor system, though, worry that the wrong person in the mayor’s seat could wreak havoc on a city in a short amount of time.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
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
Noun
In El Paso, city officials have released a draft Data Center Policy Framework to establish stronger standards for large facilities that wreak havoc on the environment and surrounding communities.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Opponents of the strong-mayor system, though, worry that the wrong person in the mayor’s seat could wreak havoc on a city in a short amount of time.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 3 June 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
Noun
-
For him and for a lot of artists and writers, seeing people experience your work in person—like being at a gallery opening with your own work on the walls and people spilling wine on it—is a kind of hell on earth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
The Miami duo’s electrifying, boundary-bending combination of Haitian kompa, underground rap, reggaeton, electro-pop, and baile funk is loud as hell and rich in egalitarian spirit.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Pop says the devastation of Iran accounts for the impression Satrapi first made on him.—
Joobin Bekhrad,
Time,
10 June 2026
-
On Thursday, June 4, Good Grief, which details the making of the singer's first album in seven years and the devastation of loss she's faced, premiered at the Tribeca Festival.—
Ilana Kaplan,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Then an outbreak of Ebola began to ravage the African nation shortly thereafter.—
Amna Subhan,
AJC.com,
9 June 2026
-
Los Angeles – and particularly the community that surrounds Riviera, still in recovery mode from the devastating fires that ravaged Pacific Palisades in January, 2025 – also won, with this week-long reminder that this community is still awfully special, no matter what the haters say.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
European carriers offer better protections against summer travel chaos.—
Andrea Sachs,
Washington Post,
6 June 2026
-
The dessert became my friend group’s small ritual amid the chaos of college life—we’d go after every exam, football game, and failed situationship.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
He was indicted on three counts -- destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
-
Yes, the Cal State Fullerton softball team continued its destruction of the Big West Conference.—
Brian Robin,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
But Texas Tech isn't the only program from the Lone Star State whose commit list LSU is plundering.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
Later on, plundering Barbary pirates raided Mallorca, looting possessions, slaughtering inhabitants and capturing others for the slave trade.—
Norma Meyer,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
Noun
-
In a memo released Thursday morning, Levine Cava did not mention the fuel depot mess in announcing the immediate departures of Morales and Webb.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
-
Platner is navigating this mess with a notably shallow reserve of goodwill, even among his backers on the left.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
The Angels scored only five runs in their first five losses to the Dodgers, and Rivero – a 27-year-old journeyman backup catcher – drove in six all by himself on Sunday.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
8 June 2026
-
If dangerous logistics and supply runs can be achieved using cheap autonomous electric vehicles, the costs of losses become more acceptable.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Havoc.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/havoc. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
