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
Outsiders called this mayhem a revolution.
—
Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Anyone old enough to have lived through the mayhem and economic decline of the 1970s probably will recall the tax cut heard round the world.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
As the city around them spins into complete mayhem, the two young lovers try to reconnect.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
The family lived in a home that resembled a castle, and their giant sheepdog, Ladadog, created lots of mayhem.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mayhem
Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Anyone old enough to have lived through the mayhem and economic decline of the 1970s probably will recall the tax cut heard round the world.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
As the city around them spins into complete mayhem, the two young lovers try to reconnect.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
The family lived in a home that resembled a castle, and their giant sheepdog, Ladadog, created lots of mayhem.
—Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mayhem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mayhem
Noun
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During a three-day rampage of gang violence, some 80 people died — the deadliest days in El Salvador since its civil war.—
T. Christian Miller,
ProPublica,
30 Sep. 2025
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What Anderson ultimately does with Perfidia’s letter to her daughter serving as a testament, and invitation to Exodus, is emphasize that revolution and true freedom requires new solutions different from the acts of violence that defined her past.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Her name is Christa Gail Pike, who was convicted of killing 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer three decades ago in a case that made national headlines at the time for its brutality.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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Safdie’s presentation of these comments foregrounds Mark’s understanding of what’s profound, and profoundly disturbing, about mixed martial arts, and perhaps all martial arts—the channelling and professionalizing of brutality.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Florida, meanwhile, had an offensive explosion with 457 yards on a night when quarterback DJ Lagway and receiver Dallas Wilson — making his college debut after a foot injury sidelined the freshman prior to Saturday — showed off the upside the Gators have been waiting for.—
Grace Raynor,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
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Church member Greg Mikat was shot three times, according to the GoFundMe his sister has organized, sustaining injuries to his leg and chest and remains hospitalized, after confronting the gunman.—
Georgea Kovanis,
Freep.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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What happened next, according to first responders, Jasper's aunt Amber Rosen, churchgoers, hospital officials and family members of those impacted, is a blur of violence and terror with the pop-pop-pop of an assault weapon and thick black smoke from fire hanging in the air.—
Georgea Kovanis,
Freep.com,
5 Oct. 2025
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The suspect behind the deadly car and knife terror attack outside a synagogue in Manchester in the United Kingdom on Thursday has been identified by police as Jihad Al-Shamie, a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mayhem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mayhem. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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