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

The flu had been wreaking havoc on USC’s locker room since late last week.

From Los Angeles Times

He is much happier, he says, but still talks of the "shame" he feels and the "havoc" the catfisher wrought.

From BBC

“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

Trump is all but sure to wreak havoc on federal agencies central to understanding, and combatting, climate change.

From Salon

Related Words

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

More About Havoc

What does havoc mean?

Havoc means chaos, disorder, or confusion. It can also mean destruction, damage, or ruin. In many cases, it refers to a combination of these things.

The phrase wreak havoc means to cause chaos or destruction or both. The phrases play havoc and raise havoc mean the same thing.

Havoc is associated with seriously destructive and chaotic situations, such as natural disasters, as in The hurricane caused havoc throughout the region. But it can be used in a range of situations. An illness can wreakhavoc on your body. A virus can cause havoc in a computer network. The wind can wreak havoc on your hair. In most cases, havoc causes a situation that was (at least somewhat) orderly to become disorderly, especially when there is damage or destruction involved.

The phrase cry havoc means to raise an alarm or give a warning.

Havoc can be used as a verb meaning to cause havoc or destroy, but this is rare.

Example: A major accident on the highway has wreaked havoc on the morning commute, causing traffic jams and delays for miles around.

Where does havoc come from?

The first records of the word havoc come from around the 1400s. It comes from the Old French havot, meaning “to pillage” (to violently loot and plunder a place, especially during a war). In Anglo-French, the spelling havok was used in the phrase crier havok, meaning “to cry havoc.” This refers to the practice of a military commander shouting “Havoc!” as a command to start pillaging.

Shakespeare uses it this way in Julius Caesar: “Cry ‘Havoc!’, and let slip the dogs of war.” Eventually, cry havoc took on a new meaning: “to sound the alarm” (typically as a warning when something destructive is about to happen). Today, havoc is no longer closely associated with pillaging, but the chaos and destruction that happen when an invading army pillages a place is a perfect example of havoc.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to havoc?

• havocked (past tense verb)
• havocking (continuous tense verb)
• havocker (noun)

What are some synonyms for havoc?

• chaos
• mayhem
• disorder
• destruction
• devastation
• ruin
• damage

What are some words that share a root or word element with havoc? 

• wreak havoc
• raise havoc
• play havoc
• cry havoc 

What are some words that often get used in discussing havoc?

• wreak
• create
• cause
• raise
• play
• cry
• storm
• economy
• environment

How is havoc used in real life?

Havoc is used in the context of situations that involve chaos, destruction, and often both.

A fast-moving Hurricane Zeta is barreling northeast after causing havoc along the coast. https://t.co/OnOPmRuOmD

— KSAT 12 (@ksatnews) October 29, 2020

Imagine a world where Windows updates didn’t wreak havoc on your audio settings

— Patrick Smith 🅙 (@TheSmithPlays) October 27, 2020

Election season can wreak havoc on our nerves. How are you coping with anxiety right now?

— Fast Company (@FastCompany) October 27, 2020

 

Try using havoc!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of havoc?

A. calm
B. devastation
C. chaos
D. mayhem