wreak havoc

American  

[reek hav-uhk] / ˈrik ˈhæv ək /

idiom

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

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

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wreak havoc More Idioms  

1. see play havoc.

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Usage

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.

Etymology

Origin of wreak havoc

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Crime and policing minister Sarah Jones said rural crime "can wreak havoc on the livelihoods of farmers and countryside communities."

From BBC

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

From Literature

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.

From Literature

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

From Literature

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

From The Wall Street Journal