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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mayhem
Dozens of spring breakers across two popular beach destinations ended up in handcuffs over the weekend as authorities continue to crack down on the mayhem wreaking havoc up and down the Sunshine State’s shores.
—
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 23 Mar. 2026
The resulting mayhem, while short-lived, went viral this week.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
Football is built on moments like Dowman’s, but strike those dramatic closing stages from memory and Everton’s wider performance should not be lost in the mayhem.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Christopher Kosakowski, United States, 2025 A circus clown celebrating his birthday alone receives a mysterious gift box harboring an antique zoetrope that spins his world into mayhem.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mayhem
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 23 Mar. 2026
The resulting mayhem, while short-lived, went viral this week.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
Football is built on moments like Dowman’s, but strike those dramatic closing stages from memory and Everton’s wider performance should not be lost in the mayhem.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Christopher Kosakowski, United States, 2025 A circus clown celebrating his birthday alone receives a mysterious gift box harboring an antique zoetrope that spins his world into mayhem.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mayhem
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mayhem
Noun
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After an accidental explosion in a West Village bomb factory killed three Weathermen, those who survived, shaken by their friends’ deaths, swore off deadly violence.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Fugazi said, referencing her city’s struggle with gangs and violence.—
Connor Letourneau,
San Francisco Chronicle,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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During the May 2020 George Floyd demonstration, protesters in downtown Los Angeles briefly shut down portions of the 101 Freeway after entering near Alameda Street, temporarily halting traffic to draw attention to the killing of Floyd and broader concerns about police brutality.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
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Mihankhah spent roughly 15 years trying to raise awareness about the brutalities of the Iranian government.—
Alexandria Burris,
IndyStar,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Authorities are working to identify the owner of a dog that entered a Midlothian home and attacked a 1‑year‑old child and an adult, leaving them bloodied and the child hospitalized with severe injuries.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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But the real loss is the latest injury.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The most violent and thuggish regime on earth would be free to carry out their campaigns of terror, coercion, conquest, and mass murder from behind a nuclear shield.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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By 1944, when much of the city lay in ruins, the terror spread.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mayhem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mayhem. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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