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
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 June 2026
For example, porch lights left on in large numbers can disrupt birds' natural migratory paths, wreaking havoc on wildlife.
—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
26 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
Heat and humidity can wreak havoc on their circuitry and batteries.
—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 June 2026
For example, porch lights left on in large numbers can disrupt birds' natural migratory paths, wreaking havoc on wildlife.
—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
26 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
-
Flying straight from the merry Riverlands into the somber halls of Dragonstone is one hell of a comedown, but Daemon never struggles to access his dark side.
-
Avery met his wife Sally Michael–a hell of an artist in her own right–in Cape Ann and the couple honeymooned there in 1926 before moving to New York and meeting Gottlieb and Rothko.
Noun
-
Following years of economic devastation and underinvestment in public services, the country’s infrastructure – from hospitals to electricity and water – is ill-equipped to deal with a crisis like this.
-
And then there's water damage and the devastation caused by flooding.
Verb
-
Shana McDiarmid and her now-boyfriend, Cameron, are another couple who benefitted from the foundation after their rental property was ravaged thanks to its proximity to the river.
-
Were civic centers nothing more than Trojan horses designed to ravage humanities departments across the nation?
Noun
-
Summer uses a family trip to a Caribbean resort to cause chaos and sabotage the relationship.
-
But lately, the chaos in the United States made the song seem regrettably apropos.
Noun
-
Rodríguez said authorities have recorded 862 aftershocks since the main quakes and confirmed that 189 buildings collapsed completely nationwide, the vast majority in La Guaira, the coastal state that suffered the worst destruction.
-
Our previous card featured the fiery destruction of the Missouri Pacific depot in 1909.
Verb
-
Or was the hole man-made with a malevolent intent, perhaps plundering a grave for artifacts?
-
The instability left Cambodia's temples unprotected and vulnerable to plunder that was often carried out by former Khmer Rouge child soldiers.
Noun
-
The reason can be explained by a Japanese proverb about the importance of leaving no mess.
-
Clean high-traffic areas or rooms where pets and kids tend to cause messes more frequently.
Noun
-
The congregation started to arrive at the usual time, about half an hour before Mass on a recent Saturday afternoon, the old church slowly filling with the descendants and caretakers of a place of great serenity but also great loss.
-
Fireflies are facing growing challenges from habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change and light pollution.
Cite this Entry
“Havoc.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/havoc. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
