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

The mites now wreak havoc on American bee colonies by feeding on the insects and spreading a wing-deforming virus.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

"For anyone who sets out to wreak havoc on our streets, to intimidate or threaten anyone, you can expect to face the full force of the law".

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Artificial intelligence is starting to wreak havoc in the ad business, as brands can now create and target ads way faster and cheaper using technology.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

If there’s trust on the back end, James can move up closer to the line of scrimmage to make plays and wreak havoc.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

He also explained that, like in the movies, occasionally one or two bad dragons can come to earth and wreak havoc on the people, though most act as our protectors.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung