mayhem

may-hem · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Violent or extreme disorder; chaos and confusion.

  2. 2.

    (Law, historical) The crime of willfully maiming or crippling a person.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    cause mayhem — to create chaos or disorder
  • •
    complete mayhem — total chaos

Related words

Antonyms: calm, order, peace, tranquility
See also: chaos, havoc, pandemonium
Synonyms: chaos, disorder, havoc, pandemonium, turmoil

Etymology

From Old French mahaigne ("injury, damage"), possibly of Germanic origin. Originally a legal term referring specifically to the crime of maiming someone to render them less capable of self-defense.