havoc Definition
- 1widespread destruction or chaos
- 2great confusion or disorder
Using havoc: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "havoc" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The storm wreaked havoc on the small town.
Example
The new policy caused havoc in the company.
Example
The children's party created havoc in the house.
Example
The pandemic has wreaked havoc on the global economy.
havoc Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using havoc
to cause trouble or create a problem that becomes much worse later on
Example
The government's neglect of the environment has sown the wind, and now we are reaping the whirlwind of climate change.
Example
The company's lax safety policies let the genie out of the bottle, and now they are facing a major lawsuit.
Example
The politician's comments stirred up a hornet's nest of controversy and criticism.
Phrases with havoc
Example
The heavy rain played havoc with the roads and caused many accidents.
Example
The protesters raised havoc in the city center, damaging buildings and setting fires.
Example
The hurricane wreaked havoc on the coastal towns, destroying homes and businesses.
Origins of havoc
from Old French 'havot', meaning 'plundering'
Summary: havoc in Brief
'Havoc' [ˈhævək] refers to widespread destruction, chaos, or great confusion and disorder. It can be caused by natural disasters, policies, events, or people's actions. Examples include 'The storm wreaked havoc on the small town.' and 'The pandemic has wreaked havoc on the global economy.' 'Havoc' is often used in phrases like 'play havoc with,' 'raise havoc,' and 'wreak havoc,' and idioms like 'to sow the wind and reap the whirlwind,' which means to create a problem that becomes much worse later on.
