havoc
noun/ˈhævək/
/ˈhævək/
[uncountable]- a situation in which things are seriously damaged, destroyed or very confused
- The floods caused havoc throughout the area.
- Continuing strikes are beginning to play havoc with the national economy.
- These insects can wreak havoc on crops.
Extra Examples- The fog played havoc with flight schedules.
- The new tax could wreak havoc among smaller companies.
- The storm caused havoc to wildlife.
- This new virus has created havoc for computer users.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + havoc- cause
- create
- play
- …
- havoc among
- havoc for
- havoc in
- …
Word Originlate Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French havok, alteration of Old French havot, of unknown origin. The word was originally used in the phrase cry havoc (Old French crier havot) ‘to give an army the order havoc’, which was the signal for plundering.
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havoc