as in violence
actions that hurt people and destroy things; a scene or situation that involves a lot of violence
Movies seem to be filled with murder and mayhem these days. a criminal who escaped from prison and caused mayhem
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Recent Examples of mayhem
Welcome to the Hotline’s Big 12 men’s basketball power rankings, a weekly assessment of the conference using analytics and common sense, with a strand of pasta occasionally heaved at the wall when mayhem is rampant.
—
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
But retaliatory violence by angry cartel members who torched cars, killed dozens of soldiers and spread mayhem in 20 of Mexico’s 32 states instead sparked widespread fear about the vast reach of organized crime here — and the government’s ability to tame it.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
In retaliation, gangsters took to the streets to light vehicles and businesses on fire, carjack cars and buses, and cause mayhem across multiple states.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 23 Feb. 2026
The next day, more mayhem erupted.
—Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mayhem
Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
But retaliatory violence by angry cartel members who torched cars, killed dozens of soldiers and spread mayhem in 20 of Mexico’s 32 states instead sparked widespread fear about the vast reach of organized crime here — and the government’s ability to tame it.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
In retaliation, gangsters took to the streets to light vehicles and businesses on fire, carjack cars and buses, and cause mayhem across multiple states.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 23 Feb. 2026
The next day, more mayhem erupted.
—Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mayhem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mayhem
Noun
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Khamanei’s rule was marked by mismanagement, and ultimately ended with one of the more brutal episodes of his trademark repression – the violence his regime meted out to keep power.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
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There’s alcoholism and violence – especially by men against women – but there’s also a yearning that can stir up grit or fortitude.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The doctors in Iran and abroad said the level of brutality and militarization of health facilities was unprecedented in a country that for decades has experienced crackdowns on dissent and surveillance of public institutions.—
Sarah El Deeb,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
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The brutality of the murder, the sophistication of the planning and the fact that it was carried out by a group of teens from loving, mostly well-off families drew widespread attention to the case.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Powell was added to the Heat’s injury report on Thursday morning, with the team listing him as questionable for the contest because of right groin soreness.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
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The man who was wounded at the store is 54-year-old Anthony Brown, who remained hospitalized Thursday with injuries that weren't considered life-threatening.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The mystery ingredient that makes the camera love some actors and spurn others is a terror.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
25 Feb. 2026
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No one will ever forget—there were people on that train—no one will ever forget the expression of terror on Iryna’s face.—
TIME Staff,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mayhem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mayhem. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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