havoc

[ hav-uhk ]

noun

1. great destruction or devastation; ruinous damage.

   Synonyms: waste, ruin, desolation

verb (used with object)

, hav·ocked, hav·ock·ing.

1. to work havoc upon; devastate.

verb (used without object)

, hav·ocked, hav·ock·ing.

1. to work havoc:

   The fire havocked throughout the house.

havoc

/ ˈhævək /

noun

1. destruction; devastation; ruin
2. informal.
   confusion; chaos
3. cry havoc archaic.
   to give the signal for pillage and destruction
4. play havoc
   often foll by with to cause a great deal of damage, distress, or confusion (to)

verb

1. archaic.
   tr to lay waste

Other Words From

• hav·ock·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of havoc¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English havok, from Anglo-French (in phrase crier havok “to cry havoc,” i.e., “utter the command havoc! ” as signal for pillaging), Middle French havot in same sense, from Germanic

Word History and Origins

Origin of havoc¹

C15: from Old French havot pillage, probably of Germanic origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cry havoc, to warn of danger or disaster.
2. play havoc with,
   1. to create confusion or disorder in:

      The wind played havoc with the papers on the desk.

   2. to destroy; ruin:

      The bad weather played havoc with our vacation plans.

3. wreak havoc. wreak havoc.

More idioms and phrases containing havoc

see cry havoc ; play havoc .

Synonym Study

See ruin.

Example Sentences

Reactionary politics wreak havoc on interpersonal connections.

From Salon

While opponents predicted that Trump’s vitriol would propel the Harris-Walz ticket to the White House, he learned well from the old Proposition 187 advocates he roped into his first campaign to speak about how unchecked migration had wreaked havoc on California.

From Los Angeles Times

“He’s wrecking havoc all over the place,” Cronin said of Clark, who added six rebounds, four points and two assists.

From Los Angeles Times

Tornado 4 wreaks havoc on a rodeo and sends a horse trailer flying through the air ... real or CG?

From Los Angeles Times

Reyes said his staff members and others “had to drill down and go into depth,” whether they were taking on neighborhood slumlords or prevailing upon grandmothers and parents to reel in sons who “were creating all this havoc out there.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• calamity
• cataclysm
• catastrophe
• chaos
• confusion
• destruction
• devastation
• disruption
• mayhem