mayhem

[ mey-hem, mey-uhm ]

/ ˈmeɪ hɛm, ˈmeɪ əm /

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See synonyms for mayhem on Thesaurus.com

noun

Law. the crime of willfully inflicting a bodily injury on another so as to make the victim less capable of self-defense or, under modern statutes, so as to cripple or mutilate the victim.

random or deliberate violence or damage.

a state of rowdy disorder: Antagonisms between the various factions at the meeting finally boiled over, and mayhem ensued.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of mayhem

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English maheym, maim, from Anglo-French mahe(i)m, mahaim, from Germanic; akin to Middle High German meidem “gelding,” Old Norse meitha “to injure”; see maim

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH mayhem

maim, mayhem

Words nearby mayhem

Mayflower, Mayflower compact, mayfly, mayhap, mayhappen, mayhem, Mayhew, Maying, Maynard, mayn't, mayo

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use mayhem in a sentence

One police officer died as a result of the mayhem and others were seriously injured.
Several Capitol police officers suspended, more than a dozen under investigation over actions related to rally, riot|Aaron Davis, Rebecca Tan, Beth Reinhard|January 12, 2021|Washington Post
Yields on Treasury bonds, which are typically in demand at times of turmoil, barely registered in the mayhem.
Why the US stock market didn’t flinch when a mob stormed the Capitol|John Detrixhe|January 7, 2021|Quartz
It was fast-paced mayhem and I caught myself laughing, hard, as if I were Outside with Friends.
2020 has sucked—but there are some small silver linings|Tanya Basu|December 25, 2020|MIT Technology Review
“Some people would like to cause mayhem and trouble,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said.
Fearing election unrest, U.S. businesses are getting ready|Rachel Schallom|November 2, 2020|Fortune

Athletes live-tweeted from the golf course and wore microphones throughout the match, creating mayhem on the platform.
As live sports roar back onto screens, brands capture a social-media lift|Twitter|July 30, 2020|Digiday
He has been going to crime scenes since 1991, and began chronicling Chicago street mayhem on Twitter about four years ago.
Chicago’s Real-Life 'Nightcrawler'|Justin Glawe|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Trevor Austin, CEO of Finna Rage, denied responsibility for the mayhem in Keene.
Frat Culture Clashes With Riot Police at Keene, N.H., Pumpkin Festival|Melanie Plenda|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ex-MMA fighter Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller live-tweeted a standoff with police over domestic violence charges.
The MMA Fighters Have Gone Crazy: ‘Mayhem’ Miller the Latest in a Long Line of Psycho Pugilists|Robert Silverman|October 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rwanda and Ethiopia, symbols in the past of death and mayhem, are now among the fastest-growing economies in the world.
How I Got Addicted to Africa (and Wrote a Thriller About It)|Todd Moss|September 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the outskirts of the partisan mayhem, a smaller crowd gathered as a heavy-set man strode up to a podium in front of them.
For the Right Price, You Can Buy This Candidate|Jack Holmes|August 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Maybe he cant do as much for the Galaxy in the long run as Mayhem can, but dont you see, man, hes a figurehead.
A Place in the Sun|C.H. Thames
Right now hes the most important man in the Galaxy, and if we could talk to him Im sure Mayhem would agree.
A Place in the Sun|C.H. Thames
Frowning with his new and as yet unseen face, Johnny Mayhem propelled himself to the floor.
A Place in the Sun|C.H. Thames
Using the dignity of the dead Sirian, whose body he wore like other people wear clothing, Johnny Mayhem ignored them.
Think Yourself to Death|C.H. Thames
Mayhem found a tiny capsule in the pocket of his Sirian jumper, and popped it in his mouth.
Think Yourself to Death|C.H. Thames

British Dictionary definitions for mayhem

mayhem

maihem

/ (ˈmeɪhɛm) /

noun

law the wilful and unlawful infliction of injury upon a person, esp (formerly) the injuring or removing of a limb rendering him less capable of defending himself against attack

any violent destruction or confusion

Word Origin for mayhem

C15: from Anglo-French mahem injury, from Germanic; related to Icelandic meitha to hurt. See maim

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

mayhem

Origin of mayhem

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH mayhem

Words nearby mayhem

Words related to mayhem

How to use mayhem in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mayhem

maihem

Word Origin for mayhem