wreak havoc

phrase

: to cause great damage
A powerful tornado wreaked havoc on the small village.
The virus wreaked havoc on my computer.

Examples of wreak havoc in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
When extreme heat wreaked havoc in Europe this summer, the equestrian industry practically came to a standstill on both sides of the English Channel. — Danielle Rossingh, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Jackson then returned and gave up a sack to Carter, who has wreaked havoc all day. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 20 Aug. 2026 Iran also continues to exploit its ability to wreak havoc in the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway that saw 20% of the world's oil trade before the war began. — Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026 While scouting for an HBO series, Kipe heard about the Dixie Mafia, a loose federation of criminals who wreaked havoc throughout the Southeast from the 1960s through the 1980s. — Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wreak havoc

Browse Nearby Words

wreakful
wreak havoc
wreath
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wreak havoc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wreak%20havoc. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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