MAYHEM Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

mayhem

noun

Definition of mayhem

as in violence

actions that hurt people and destroy things; a scene or situation that involves a lot of violence Movies seem to be filled with murder and mayhem these days. a criminal who escaped from prison and caused mayhem

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of mayhem Their survivor’s guilt, their abandonment issues, and their mistrust of power are as legitimate and worthy of screen time as any monster mayhem. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026 Yet the diverging political and regulatory attention paid to the two industries makes increasingly little sense, given the bond market’s growing primacy in the financial system, and its ability to also cause mayhem. — Robin Wigglesworth, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026 The movie was met with multiple mid-screening applauses as the crowd went wild for all the kaiju mayhem on screen. — Antonio Ferme, Variety, 27 Sep. 2026 El Niños create all manner of climate mayhem, including soaring temperatures on land, more intense storms at sea and epic rain and snowfall. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mayhem

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mayhem

Noun

Some lawmakers worry broadcasting the execution could inspire more violence.

— Erin Jones, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Blending psychological drama with raw folk horror steeped in the West Slavic mythology of Kashubia, Òpi explores violence, repression and the horrors inherited from one generation to the next.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of violence

Noun

Notable releases include a novel about police brutality, the return of Barbara Kingsolver, 1980s fiction and a deep dive into the very real specter of artificial intelligence.

— Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 8 Oct. 2026
The government suspended the use of stun grenades after a 15-year-old boy's hand was blown off earlier in the week, fueling accusations of police brutality.

— Jenni Reid, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of brutality

Noun

The ship’s 21 crew members were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
His injuries were deemed non-life-threatening, and police said he is being taken to a Dallas-area hospital for further treatment.

— Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of injury

Noun

Phobos and Deimos take their names from the Greek mythological personifications of fear and terror, sons of the war god Ares, whose Roman counterpart is Mars.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Founded in 2015 by Thomas Brag, Matt Dajer, Ammar Kandil and Derin Emre, the group gained traction through their videos about travel, adventure and, in the wake of terror attacks in Beirut and Paris, inclusivity.

— Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of terror

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mayhap

mayhem

mazard

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“Mayhem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mayhem. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of mayhem

noun

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