wreak havoc

[reek hav-uhk]

idiom

1. to cause considerable confusion, disorder, or damage.

   Solar flares can wreak havoc with satellites and other expensive electronics on the ground.

Word History and Origins

Origin of wreak havoc¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Idioms and Phrases

see play havoc.

Example Sentences

“What if it goes and possesses you? A Shard of Asase Yaa? It could wreak havoc.”

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On one point they were in firm agreement: they would happily howl at the moon, chew on expensive leather shoes, climb the furniture, and wreak havoc in any number of wolfish ways, but under no circumstances would they go back to hunting squirrels.

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One mistake could ruin not only your life but that of your entire family—and wreak havoc for the entire community.

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Microchimeric cells can wreak havoc with genetic paternity tests and DNA analysis in criminal cases.

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In an arms competition, as long as each side can wreak havoc on the other, destroying all the targets it needs to in order to deter an attack or “limit damage” if war can’t be deterred, it doesn’t matter which side has slightly larger numbers.

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When To Use

What does wreak havoc mean?

To wreak havoc is to cause chaos or destruction or both.Wreak means to inflict or cause. Havoc means chaos, disorder, or confusion. It can also mean destruction, damage, or ruin. In many cases, it refers to a combination of these things.The phrases play havoc and raise havoc mean the same thing as wreak havoc. The past tense of wreak havoc is wreaked havoc. Sometimes, the word wrought is used as a past tense of wreak. This isn’t considered standard usage, but the phrase wrought havoc still makes sense.Havoc is associated with seriously destructive and chaotic situations, such as natural disasters, as in The hurricane wreaked havoc throughout the region. But it can be used in a range of situations. An illness can wreak havoc on your body. A virus can wreak havoc in a computer network. The wind can wreak havoc on your hair. In most cases, to wreak havoc is to disrupt a situation that was (at least somewhat) orderly by making it become disorderly, especially when there is damage or destruction involved.Example: A major accident on the highway has wreaked havoc on the morning commute, causing traffic jams and delays for miles around.