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
So in the tradition of Friday The 13th, A Nightmare On Elm Street, Halloween, with a touch of Stephen King and others, The Grabber returns, with Ethan Hawke’s screen demon calling in the role from Hell and causing all sorts of new mayhem.
—
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
Two-hour walking tour touches on the gruesome and macabre events of the city's past, including grave robbing, a serial killing saloonist and other deadly mayhem.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
In Horizons, the tricksy character is introduced like many of the anime's ghosties before it, causing mayhem aboard the Brave Olivine for an eventually delighted Liko and Roy in episode 30.
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Multi-level multiplayer mayhem Despite its surprisingly competent story campaign, the real draw of Battlefield is the multiplayer — and it’s rarely been better than in this new game.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mayhem
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
Two-hour walking tour touches on the gruesome and macabre events of the city's past, including grave robbing, a serial killing saloonist and other deadly mayhem.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Oct. 2025
In Horizons, the tricksy character is introduced like many of the anime's ghosties before it, causing mayhem aboard the Brave Olivine for an eventually delighted Liko and Roy in episode 30.
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Multi-level multiplayer mayhem Despite its surprisingly competent story campaign, the real draw of Battlefield is the multiplayer — and it’s rarely been better than in this new game.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mayhem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mayhem
Noun
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But Afghan-Pakistan relations have soured amid an uptick in militant violence against Pakistan.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
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Given the previous behavior of Netanyahu and the Hamas leadership, there is every chance that violence might erupt again.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The sight of Musk swinging a chainsaw onstage at a conservative conference captured the pell-mell approach, not to mention the brutality, of the billionaire’s plan to bring the federal government to heel.—
Andy Kroll,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
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And as civil rights protesters proved decades ago, a righteous, peaceful protest that is met with brutality can unmute even a silent majority.—
Nancy Gibbs,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Blaylock was charged with felony injury to a child with serious bodily injury, court records show.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
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Bronny James missed the Lakers' preseason finale against the Kings, listed as day-to-day with an ankle injury.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In the Netflix adaptation, Pippa helps describe the fight against the Twits’ reign of mischief and terror, serving as a moral compass amid the chaos.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
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Mathis has been a terror for opposing quarterbacks alongside teammate and fellow true freshman Sidney Stewart.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mayhem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mayhem. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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