HOW TO PRONOUNCE
mayhem
/ˈmeɪˌ(h)ɛm/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does mayhem mean?
noun
- The criminal offence of maiming a person by depriving them of the use of any of their limbs.
- (figuratively) Often preceded by to cause or make: great confusion, destruction, disorder, or trouble; chaos, turmoil; (countable) an instance of this.
- (figuratively) Violent conduct, especially the violent infliction of injury on a person or thing.
More meanings (3)
noun
- (historical) The criminal offence of maiming (“seriously wounding”) a person such that their ability to defend or protect themselves is weakened or completely removed; (countable) an instance of this.
verb
- (archaic) To commit the criminal offence of mayhem (noun sense 1) on (someone); to maim.
- (archaic, figuratively) To violently inflict injury on (someone); to injure, to wound.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈmeɪˌ(h)ɛm/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
“Professor Archimedes Q. Porter,” broke in Mr. Philander, in icy tones, “the time has arrived when patience becomes a crime and mayhem appears garbed in the mantle of virtue. You have accused me of cowardice. You have insinuated that you ran only to overtake me, not to escape the clutches of the lion. Have a care, Professor Archimedes Q. Porter! I am a desperate man. Goaded by long-suffering patience the worm will turn.”