Synonyms: devastation, damage, destruction, waste More Synonyms of havoc
2.
See to play havoc
More Synonyms of havoc
havoc in British English
(ˈhævək)
noun
1.
destruction; devastation; ruin
2. informal
confusion; chaos
3. cry havoc
4. play havoc
verbWord forms: -ocs, -ocking or -ocked
5. (transitive) archaic
to lay waste
Word origin
C15: from Old French havot pillage, probably of Germanic origin
havoc in American English
(ˈhævək; ˈhævˌɑk)
noun
1.
great destruction and devastation, as that resulting from hurricanes, wars, etc.
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈhavocked or ˈhavocking
2. Obsolete
to lay waste; devastate
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈruin
Idioms:
cry havoc
play havoc with
Word origin
earlier esp. in phrase cry havoc (see below) < ME & Anglo-Fr havok < OFr havot, prob. < haver, to hook, take, hef, a hook < Frank *haf-, to seize: for IE base see have
Examples of 'havoc' in a sentence
havoc
This gave him licence to get forward and wreak havoc.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It will spell war or wreak the havoc of one.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But what to do when heels wreak havoc on your lower back?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It felt great at the time but it's caused havoc.
The Sun (2016)
The visitors have been disrupted by floods that wreaked havoc in the town.
The Sun (2016)
Wet weather continues to play havoc with the sport.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The big freeze has wreaked more havoc around the country.
The Sun (2010)
They said that hooligans from the city took advantage of the chaos to wreak havoc.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Such an attitude brings havoc into the work of the kingdom.
Christianity Today (2000)
Should we really let hardliners such as this wreak economic havoc without basic checks?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
If his beliefs caused havoc in his personal relationships he took complete responsibility for it.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Terrible havoc has been wrought in the neighbourhood of the sea front.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Mixed summer weather plays havoc with wine selection.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Profit warnings and project delays have wreaked havoc on the share price.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Further economic havoc during the campaign could turn the voters against him.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Simple objects speak eloquently of the havoc wrought.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Corruption is playing havoc with the country.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He warned that high wind speeds could wreak havoc.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Few measures have wrought such political havoc in so short a time.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
So it increasingly becomes a question of how much havoc he is allowed to inflict before he tumbles.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He brings havoc in his trail.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
So, why do hormones cause such havoc?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If they spent any more than these limits allowed, the speculators would wreak such economic havoc that their government would collapse.
George Monbiot THE AGE OF CONSENT (2003)
THE coldest winter in 20 years will bring more weather havoc this week.
The Sun (2009)
It's about the havoc and chaos of the Restoration.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The dark cloud prompted by the global financial crisis of 2008 did not wreak as much havoc in 2009 as commentators had feared.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Some simple mathematics show just how much havoc a jump to 75 per cent would wreak on PSG.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
havoc
British English: havoc NOUN
Havoc is great disorder, and confusion.
Rioters caused havoc in the centre of the town.
American English: havoc
Brazilian Portuguese: destruição
Chinese: 大混乱
European Spanish: estragos
French: ravages
German: Chaos
Italian: gran subbuglio
Japanese: 大混乱
Korean: 대혼란
European Portuguese: destruição
Latin American Spanish: estragos
Chinese translation of 'havoc'
havoc
(ˈhævək)
n(u)
大破坏(壞) (dà pòhuài)
to cause havoc使混乱(亂) (shǐ hùnluàn)
to play havoc with or wreak havoc on sth扰(擾)乱(亂)某事 (rǎoluàn mǒushì)
1 (noun)
Rioters caused havoc in the centre of the town.
Synonyms
devastation
A huge bomb blast brought devastation to the centre of the city.
damage
There have been many reports of minor damage to buildings.
destruction
the extensive destruction caused by the rioters
waste
ruin
It is the ruin of society.
wreck
a broken man contemplating the wreck of his life
slaughter
ravages
carnage
Their peaceful protest ended in carnage.
desolation
The army left a trail of desolation in its wake.
rack and ruin
despoliation (formal)
the despoliation of the countryside by roads
2 (noun)
Definition
chaos, disorder, and confusion
(informal)
The overturned lorry wreaked havoc on the roads.
Synonyms
disorder
The emergency room was in disorder.
confusion
The rebel leader seems to have escaped in the confusion.
chaos
The country appears to be sliding towards chaos.
disruption
delays and disruption to flights from Britain
mayhem
the economic mayhem that this country's going through now
shambles
The economy is a shambles.
idiom
See play havoc with something
Additional synonyms
in the sense of carnage
Definition
extensive slaughter of people
Their peaceful protest ended in carnage.
Synonyms
slaughter,
murder,
massacre,
holocaust,
havoc,
bloodshed,
shambles,
mass murder,
butchery,
blood bath
in the sense of chaos
Definition
complete disorder or confusion
The country appears to be sliding towards chaos.
Synonyms
disorder,
confusion,
mayhem,
havoc (informal),
anarchy,
lawlessness,
pandemonium,
entropy,
bedlam,
tumult,
disorganization
in the sense of confusion
Definition
disorder
The rebel leader seems to have escaped in the confusion.