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To play 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. The verb play in the phrase isn’t used in any of the ways that usually is. In play havoc, play basically means to inflict or cause.

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

Havoc is associated with seriously destructive and chaotic situations, such as natural disasters, as in The hurricane played havoc throughout the region. But it can be used in a range of situations. An illness can play havoc on your body. A virus can play havoc in a computer network. The wind can play havoc on your hair. In most cases, to play 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 played havoc on the morning commute, causing traffic jams and delays for miles around.

The phrase play 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 playing havoc. Unlike wreak havoc and raise havoc, which are synonyms of play 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 play havoc?

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

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

• play
• havoc
• cry havoc��

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

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

Play 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 probably more commonly used, especially in the U.S.

COVID-19 has played havoc with many people’s careers, but it may have been especially detrimental to women. Here are 5 steps to rethinking your own story!

— 30Seconds (@30seconds)

Sydney's big wet has played havoc with the opening rounds of the WBBL, as players adjust to hub life under the conditions outlined in their village document.

— The Age Sport (@theagesport)

Some of my best childhood memories was growing up in Haringey.

I went to a primary school off Bounds Green Road, so walking distance for me and my family. However, the subsequent pollution from that road played havoc with my asthma.

— Nathan Ashley (@NathanAshleyLDN)

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

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