How do you use the word "havoc" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "havoc": His statement raised havoc. Vandals wreaked havoc in the abandoned house.

Havoc Meaning

/ˈhævək/

Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

nounWidespread devastation and destruction.

nounMayhem.

Sentence Examples

His statement raised havoc.

Vandals wreaked havoc in the abandoned house.

The hurricane has already caused havoc in the Caribbean.

CEFR Practice Quiz

The powerful tornado caused ____ in the small town, destroying many homes.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

The massive hurricane wreaked ____ on the coastal towns, destroying many homes and businesses.

Word Origin & History

From Middle English havok, havyk, from Old French havok in the phrase crier havok (“cry havoc”) a signal to soldiers to seize plunder, from Old French crier (“cry out, shout”) + havot (“pillaging, looting”), of obscure origin. Probably from a derivative of Old French *haf, hef (“hook”), from Frankish *haf, *habbjā, *happjā (“pruning-hook, scythe”), derived from Proto-Germanic *habjaną (“to take up, lift”), related to Old French havee (“handful”), Old French havet (“pruning-hook”), Old High German habba, heppa (“pruning-hook, scythe”), modern German Hippe (“billhook”). If so, then also related to English heave and doublet of hatchet.

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"I [Paul the Apostle] vvas going to Damaſcus vvith Letters from the High Prieſt to make Havock of God's People there, as I had made Havock of them in other places. Theſe bloody Letters vvas not impoſed upon me. I vvent to the High Prieſt and deſired them of him, Acts 9. 1, 2. And yet he [God] ſaved me!" — 1688, John Bunyan, Good News for the Vilest of Men, or, A Help for Despairing Souls. […], London: […] George Larkin, […], →OCLC, page 59:

"Ye Gods, what Havock does Ambition make / Among your Works!" — 1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 1:

"But when I had come to that part of the city which I judged to have contained the relics I sought I found havoc that had been wrought there even greater than elsewhere." — 1918, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The People that Time Forgot, HTML edition, The Gutenberg Project, published 2008:

"To tear and havoc more than she can eat." — 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:

"Do not cry havoc, where you should but hunt / With modest warrant." — c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):

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