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 Advertisement Here and there, Bruce Banner/the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Frank Castle/Punisher (Jon Bernthal), and Mac Gargan/Scorpion (Michael Mando) show up to cause mayhem. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 28 July 2026 Detectives concluded that the mayhem was the result of a shootout Mason Triana had earlier in the morning with his older brother, Alan Triana. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 27 July 2026 But authorities boast that the state has lately become a model for reducing mob mayhem — an assertion that many find suspect. — Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026 This South Florida city once known for spring break mayhem is all grown up, so book a post-cruise stay. — Tracey Teo, AJC.com, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mayhem

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mayhem

Noun

The violence is the latest sign of armed groups increasingly targeting cities and urban centers in Africa's Sahel region.

— CBS News, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Magneto’s methods of fighting violence with violence may have sometimes been unscrupulous, but his ideology was always compelling, to X-Men members and viewers alike.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of violence

Noun

The Beast in Me showrunner Howard Gordon knows there was one scene in the Netflix limited series that was divisive because of its brutality.

— Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 15 Aug. 2026
Today, such dreams might put a woman in jail or expose her to the casual brutality of the Taliban’s paternal order.

— Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of brutality

Noun

The official did not provide further details on the alleged association with terror organizations.

— Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
An experience that demands the big screen, featuring even more astounding effects choreography than its predecessor, Godzilla Minus Zero cranks up the terror while always keeping its post-WWII Japan narrative at human eye level.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 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 18 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of mayhem

noun

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