mayhem
9 synonyms for mayhem, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Wild confusion, disorder, or chaos.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use mayhem
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
sheer mayhem
cause mayhem
chaos and mayhem
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman mahaim ("mutilation"), ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "to cripple" — the everyday "chaos" sense developed later from the legal one.
Full origin of mayhem →Frequently asked questions
What does “mayhem” mean?
The word “mayhem” means wild confusion, disorder, or chaos. In plain terms, total chaos or disorder — everything happening at once and out of control.
How do you pronounce “mayhem”?
“Mayhem” is pronounced MAY-hehm (/ˈmeɪəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “mayhem” in a sentence?
Here is “mayhem” used in a sentence: “The power cut plunged the office into complete mayhem.”
What part of speech is “mayhem”?
“Mayhem” is a noun.
Where does the word “mayhem” come from?
The word “mayhem” comes from Germanic. From Anglo-Norman mahaim ("mutilation"), ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "to cripple" — the everyday "chaos" sense developed later from the legal one.
Is “mayhem” a common word?
“Mayhem” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “mayhem” have?
“Mayhem” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: wild confusion, disorder, or chaos.
