Definition

A situation where there is a lot of chaos, confusion, or violence, often causing great damage or injury.

Example

The protest turned into mayhem when the crowd began to clash with the police.

Conversation

Did you see the party last night?

Yeah, it was complete mayhem with all those people!

I can't believe how wild it got so quickly.

Right? I thought someone was going to get hurt in all that mayhem!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Mayhem originates from Old French 'mahem' (meaning injury or damage) and is derived from the Old French verb 'mahever' (meaning to maim). The word 'mayhem' refers to the act of causing injury or violent disorder.

Memory Tip

Think of 'mahem' as a reference to causing 'injury' or 'damage' — that's why mayhem means a state of violent disorder.

Visually Confused Words