raise havoc

To raise havoc is to cause chaos or destruction or both.

Havoc means chaos, disorder, or confusion. It can also mean destruction, damage, or ruin. In many cases, it refers to a combination of these things. In raise havoc, the word raise means to bring about or cause.

The phrases wreak havoc and play havoc mean the same thing as raise havoc.

Havoc is associated with seriously destructive and chaotic situations, such as natural disasters, as in The hurricane raised havoc throughout the region. But it can be used in a range of situations. An illness can raise havoc on your body. A virus can raise havoc in a computer network. The wind can raise havoc on your hair. In most cases, to raise havoc is to disrupt a situation that was (at least somewhat) orderly by making it become disorderly, especially when there is damage or destruction involved.

Example: A major accident on the highway has raised havoc on the morning commute, causing traffic jams and delays for miles around.

The phrase raise havoc has been used since at least the 1800s. The word havoc comes from the Old French havot, meaning “to pillage” (to violently loot and plunder a place, especially during a war). In Anglo-French, the spelling havok was used in the phrase crier havok, meaning “to cry havoc.” This refers to the practice of a military commander shouting “Havoc!” as a command to start pillaging.

Today, havoc is no longer closely associated with pillaging, but an invading army pillaging and causing chaos and destruction is a perfect example of raising havoc. Unlike wreak havoc and play havoc, which are synonyms of raise havoc, the phrase cry havoc means “to sound the alarm” (typically as a warning when something destructive is about to happen).

What are some synonyms for raise havoc?

• wreak havoc
• play havoc
• devastate
• ruin
• disrupt
• damage
• ravage
• lay waste
• play the devil

What are some words that share a root or word element with raise havoc? 

• raise
• havoc
• raise hell
• raise Cain
• cry havoc 

What are some words that often get used in discussing raise havoc?

• chaos
• mayhem
• disorder
• destruction
• devastation
• storm
• hurricane
• economy
• environment

Raise havoc is used in the context of situations that involve chaos, destruction, and often both. The phrase wreak havoc means the same thing and is more commonly used.

While the skiers, sledders, and snowshoers are delighted by this latest arrival of the white stuff, it is raising havoc on interior roads and highways. Please drive carefully, stay back from plow equipment, and above all – stay safe! #Shuswap pic.twitter.com/gompNmP6SS

— Greg Kyllo Shuswap (@KylloGreg) December 19, 2017

Pockets of clouds raising havoc with temperatures. Cold spot so far Benton Harbor at a low of -15.

— NWS Northern Indiana (@NWSIWX) January 14, 2015

Raising the minimum wage without raising havoc via @Milbank http://t.co/CeNFJWPqE3

— Ralph Nader (@RalphNader) September 5, 2014

 

Which of the following terms is NOT a synonym of raise havoc?

A. play havoc
B. wreak havoc
C. cry havoc
D. disrupt