Words / B2

HAV-uh-k/ˈhævək/

Havoc is widespread damage or confusion (uncountable): wreak havoc; play havoc with. Chaos is a close twin, slightly more everyday. The outage wreaked havoc on logins. Do not use havoc for a missing stapler. Collocation: wreak havoc (not “make havoc” in careful news English).

Meaning

Widespread damage or confusion.

Examples

• “The outage wreaked havoc on results-day logins across the trust.”
• “Pollen played havoc with the ventilation sensors, which is a common collocation.”

Good to know

wreak havoc; play havoc with. Close: chaos. Uncountable. Weather, IT, and strikes. Set verbs: wreak / play — not “do havoc”.

Near in meaning

chaos

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