1
as in hell
a state in which everything is out of order
computer network problems created havoc throughout the office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in devastation
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
the powerful hurricane wreaked havoc all along the coast
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to ravage
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of havoc
PC Magazine, 22 May 2025
Plankton: The Movie arrives exclusively on Netflix in 2025.
06 of 06
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (2025)
Next year SpongeBob returns to theaters with his fourth film, The Search for SquarePants, as Plankton wrecks havoc on Netflix.
—Rendy Jones, EW.com, 2 Aug. 2024
Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
The bacteria causing havoc for summer swimmers include E.coli and Enterococcus — nasty germs often found in the feces of people and animals.
—Shreya Srinivasan, NBC news, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for havoc
Noun
Even after hours of fast traveling, horseback riding, and slowly jogging from point A to point B, there were more quests to find, gear to loot, and havoc to wreak.
—PC Magazine, 22 May 2025
Plankton: The Movie arrives exclusively on Netflix in 2025.
06 of 06
The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants (2025)
Next year SpongeBob returns to theaters with his fourth film, The Search for SquarePants, as Plankton wrecks havoc on Netflix.
—Rendy Jones, EW.com, 2 Aug. 2024
Verb
The Dodgers could look away when ICE was causing havoc in other parts of town, but even the morally compromised have limits.
—Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
The bacteria causing havoc for summer swimmers include E.coli and Enterococcus — nasty germs often found in the feces of people and animals.
—Shreya Srinivasan, NBC news, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for havoc
Recent Examples of Synonyms for havoc
Noun
-
The supervillain reveals it to the world, turning the public against Superman and making Supes’ life hell, including kidnapping his dog Krypto.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
13 July 2025
-
But this place is something of a personal hell; Harper entered Monday with a lower OPS here than in any other National League ballpark.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Photograph by Matt Ramey / Redux Chased by Climate Disaster in North Carolina Just days after floods ravaged Texas, Tropical Storm Chantal dumped ten inches of rain on parts of central North Carolina, closing hundreds of roads and killing several people.—
Ian Crouch,
New Yorker,
15 July 2025
-
There, the couple encountered stories of e-waste dumps and communities ravaged by global tech’s hidden costs.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
These transitions often come with chaos and packed schedules.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
-
Fans can look forward to rapid-fire questions, unexpected moments, and plenty of chaos alongside the rest of the lineup, which includes Hannah Berner, Kaitlyn Bristowe and Stassi Schroeder.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
Unfortunately for the over 200 families and individuals renting at Acacia Cliffs, the City Council has incentivized our displacement and the destruction of 290 of the most affordable apartments in West Austin.—
Shonda Novak,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Weary of dealing with angry calls from the mayor about Frank’s blithe trail of city property destruction, police chief Davis (CCH Pounder) warns him to play nice with major donor Kane, since Police Squad’s funding is at risk.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
30 July 2025
Verb
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Although the passengers managed to swim or be hauled on ropes to shore, much of the ship’s cargo—which included tea, brandy, nails, iron, and Wright’s paintings—was lost, washed out of the ship’s hold and either plundered by a passing privateer and people living nearby or sunk below the waves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 July 2025
-
The British Museum has many artifacts in its collection which were plundered during imperial and colonial eras, and are contested.—
Lauren Frayer,
NPR,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
The Twins approached the deadline in fourth place, six games under .500, 12 games out in the division, a fragile mess.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
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Scientists have spent decades puzzling over potatoes’ origin story, in large part because the plants’ genetics are a bit of a mess, Ek Han Tan, a plant geneticist at the University of Maine who wasn’t involved in the study, told me.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
31 July 2025
Noun
-
Under this plan, foreign workers would only be admitted to supplement—not displace—the U.S. workforce, addressing concerns about wage suppression and job loss.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
-
Analysts predict further job losses in the auto industry if the tariff policy continues.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
Freep.com,
26 July 2025
Verb
-
Before its fury was exhausted, the mob rampaged through the Loop, breaking hundreds of windows and looting jewelry and department stores.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
27 July 2025
-
Broadcasts aired stampedes of people trapped in the Superdome, overhead footage of submerged streets, and looted grocery stores.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Havoc.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/havoc. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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