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Mayhem vs Shambles - What's the difference?

mayhem | shambles |

As nouns the difference between mayhem and shambles

is that mayhem is a state or situation of great confusion, disorder, trouble or destruction; chaos while shambles is work done in a poor fashion.

As a verb shambles is

(shamble).

mayhem

English

Alternative forms

* maihem

Noun

(en-noun)
  • A state or situation of great confusion, disorder, trouble or destruction; chaos.
    • What if the legendary hero Robin Hood had been born into the mayhem of the 20th century ?
    In all the mayhem , some children were separated from their partners.
    She waded into the mayhem , elbowing between taller men to work her way to the front of the crowd.
    The clowns would dart into the crowd and pull another unsuspecting victim into the mayhem of the ring
  • Infliction of violent injury on a person or thing.
    • The fighting dogs created mayhem in the flower beds.
  • (legal) The maiming of a person by depriving him of the use of any of his limbs which are necessary for defense or protection.
  • (legal) The crime of damaging things or harming people on purpose.

    • Synonyms

    * (chaos) * (infliction of violent injury on a person or thing) * (legal) * See ,

    References

    shambles

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • work done in a poor fashion
  • a scene of great disorder or ruin
  • a great mess or clutter
    • This website is a shambles .
  • a scene of bloodshed, carnage or devastation
  • a slaughterhouse
  • (archaic) a butcher's shop
  • * Jonathan Swift
    • As to our city of Dublin, shambles may be appointed for this purpose in the most convenient parts of it, and butchers we may be assured will not be wanting

    Derived terms

    * omnishambles * shambolic * shambly

    Verb

    (head)
  • (shamble)