mayhem

noun

Definition of mayhemnext
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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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 mayhem That in the midst of this mayhem and chaos of the production, that Spielberg is still focused on the characters and the story. — Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 22 June 2026 Lately, historians have come around to the story’s portrait of the conflict as marked by internecine mayhem. — John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026 But goons roaming the streets, vandalizing property and causing mayhem must not be tolerated. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 June 2026 Issa Hamade and Ahmad Harb, both 32, and Sobhi Sobh, 33, were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping, extortion, conspiracy, battery with intent to commit mayhem, robbery or grand larceny, and coercion with force or threats, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. — Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for mayhem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mayhem
  1. violence
  2. brutality
  3. injury
  4. terror
Noun
  • Was remembers the tumult, violence and hope that came out of that era in his hometown of Detroit.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • But the comments from Raia provide the clearest public indication yet that the FBI's Joint Mission Center, established earlier this year to coordinate the bureau's response to domestic political violence, is producing tangible investigative results.
    — Asra Q. Nomani , Morgan Phillips, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of violence
Noun
  • Lee learned much about the systemic oppression that Black Americans faced from his first student, Jesse Glover, who had been a victim of police brutality.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • These early precedents in fictional brutality also weaken Thomson’s next point, about literature’s superiority.
    — Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Definition of brutality
Noun
  • Seigler remained down for several minutes, bleeding from one arm and grimacing in pain as interim manager Chad Tracy and trainers rushed out to check him for a head injury.
    — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 9 July 2026
  • Not bad considering his fight to find feel after missing most of last year with injuries and enduring a five-start slump from the end of May through the middle of June.
    — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
Definition of injury
Noun
  • In its absence, this category is open for business, with Rhys, so good at shifting between his show’s droll humor and genuine terror, an obvious choice.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • On top of that, there was a terror attack plot at one of her concerts in Vienna in 2024, which was thwarted.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 7 July 2026
Definition of terror

Browse Nearby Words

mayhap
mayhem
mazard
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Cite this Entry

“Mayhem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mayhem. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mayhem

Nglish: Translation of mayhem for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mayhem

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