wreak havoc — to cause great damage, chaos, or destruction
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to cause great damage, chaos, or destruction
Pronunciation (IPA): /riːk ˈhævək/
Example Sentences
- My cat wreaked havoc on my laptop by walking across the keyboard and deleting my entire thesis.
- The virus outbreak wreaked havoc on global supply chains.
- Her toddler wreaked havoc in the kitchen while she was on a 5-minute phone call.
wreak havoc
NOUN[/riːk ˈhævək/]
to cause great damage, chaos, or destruction
to cause great damage, chaos, or destruction
When storms reach their peak, even strong walls grow weak!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Wreak derives from Old English 'wrecan' meaning 'to avenge' or 'punish.' Havoc comes from Anglo-French 'havok', denoting plunder or destruction. In medieval warfare, 'cry havoc' was a military command signaling soldiers permission to plunder and destroy.
Breakdown
Wreak (Old English 'wrecan': to avenge, punish) + havoc (Anglo-French 'havok': plunder, destruction). The phrase combines a verb of vengeance with a noun of devastation to express total destruction.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My cat wreaked havoc on my laptop by walking across the keyboard and deleting my entire thesis.”
“The virus outbreak wreaked havoc on global supply chains.”
“Her toddler wreaked havoc in the kitchen while she was on a 5-minute phone call.”
“Climate change is wreaking havoc on polar bear populations.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.