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 Put another way, sports would be unwatchable mayhem and impossible to administer if every bad call compelled attacks on the integrity of the games and interference from political grandstanders. — Vahe Gregorian july 7, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026 Those arrested or cited during the mayhem in Newport Beach on the Fourth of July were mostly split between California and Arizona residents, ranging from age 13 to 39, according to data provided by the Newport Beach Police Department on Tuesday. — Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 7 July 2026 These persons came to our city with the intent on causing harm, injury, and destruction, bringing harassment, disturbances, and mayhem. — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026 So even if you get frustrated, or things don’t go according to plan, try to stay calm and practice patience amid the mayhem. — Chantelle Lee, Time, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for mayhem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mayhem
  1. violence
  2. brutality
  3. injury
  4. terror
Noun
  • News outlets uncovered years-old comments on Reddit that appeared to endorse political violence, dismiss rape in the military, criticize rural Americans and use anti-gay slurs.
    — Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Al-Geneina and al-Fashir saw the most intense violence in the war between the Sudanese army and the RSF that continued for more than three years.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 9 July 2026
Definition of violence
Noun
  • On Friday, prosecutor Scott Warfman detailed the brutality of the crime, urging the judge to hand down several life sentences.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
  • Crump is a civil rights attorney best known for representing the families of Black people who are victims of gun violence and police brutality.
    — Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of brutality
Noun
  • But his injury also comes as the Hawks’ roster has had a lot of turnover across the last two years.
    — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 16 July 2026
  • Debris from the interceptions fell in several locations but no injuries or damage were reported, the Jordanian Armed Forces said, according to the state news agency Petra.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
Definition of injury
Noun
  • What started as a campaign to diminish Iran’s nuclear capabilities and weaken its global terror networks has morphed into a dispute over control of one of the world’s most important trade routes.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • In these novels, the main character has been so absurdly addled by a (late-revealed) trauma that everyday human interactions are wildly aglow with (at first) terror or (later) manic-pixie wonder.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of terror

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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 16 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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