havoc

[hav-uhk]

noun

1. great destruction or devastation; ruinous damage.

   Synonyms: waste, ruin, desolation

verb (used with object)

havocked, havocking 

1. to work havoc upon; devastate.

verb (used without object)

havocked, havocking 

1. to work havoc.

   The fire havocked throughout the house.

havoc

/ ˈhævək /

noun

1. destruction; devastation; ruin

2. informal,  confusion; chaos

3. archaic,  to give the signal for pillage and destruction

4. (often foll by with) to cause a great deal of damage, distress, or confusion (to)

verb

1. archaic,  (tr) to lay waste

Other Word Forms

• havocker 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.

see cry havoc; play havoc.

Synonym Study

See ruin.

Example Sentences

Torrential rains have wreaked havoc in several parts of India this year, killing hundreds of people in floods and landslides.

From BBC

Besides the toll the system takes on veterans, vacancies in apartment units reserved for veterans play havoc with the bottom lines of subsidized buildings that were financed on the basis of guaranteed revenue from vouchers.

From Los Angeles Times

Perhaps the most concrete example of this came in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which killed at least 250 people and wreaked havoc across the southeastern U.S. last September.

From Salon

Typhoon Yagi, which made landfall in Vietnam in September last year, wreaked havoc across the country, causing billions in damage and leaving some 1.5 million people without power.

From BBC

The brief strike wreaked havoc during the peak summer travel season, but flights resumed after both sides agreed to a tentative deal on Tuesday.

From BBC

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.