wreck 1 of 2

noun

ˈrek How to pronounce wreck (audio)
Definition of wrecknext
1
as in wreckage
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed found the wreck of the ship lying on the floor of the ocean

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2
as in wrecking
the destruction or loss of a ship the wreck cost the insurance company millions of dollars

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3
as in collision
the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact a dangerous stretch of roadway that has been the scene of numerous car wrecks

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wreck

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to scuttle
to cause irreparable damage to (a ship) by running aground or sinking many an unwary captain has wrecked his ship on the shoals that surround the island

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2
as in to ruin
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of most of the furniture on the ground floor was wrecked by the floodwaters

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wreck
Noun
Later, the pilot is seen making a call to alert others to the wreck. — Jennifer Watts, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 Having entered the business in the 1970s and shepherded clients through the post-2000 tech-wreck and then the global financial crisis, he has lately been fixated on the prospect that the secular bull market that began in 2009 is in its waning phase. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
Decay intensified quickly, and the elements broke down most anything that vandals hadn’t already wrecked. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026 Stefano Cerio’s outdoor photography installation about the devastation wrecked by wildfires was nearly engulfed in a real wildfire on Saturday, reported Artribune. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wreck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreck
  1. wreckage
  2. wrecking
  3. collision
  4. scuttle
  5. ruin
  6. debris
  7. crash
  8. shipwreck
Noun
  • The summit itself turned out to be a failure, but Washington and Moscow later climbed over its wreckage to reach new agreements.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Barker and Goldstein suffered severe burns Barker and Goldstein were spotted a few feet from the wreckage by local resident William Owens, who had been driving near the airport.
    — Gillian Telling, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of wreckage
Noun
  • At least, there was a lot less wrecking.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The Ravens haven’t really had that game-wrecking pass rusher since Terrell Suggs was in his prime.
    — The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Definition of wrecking
Noun
  • The collision killed 46-year-old Venancio Papalotzi-George of Meriden.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026
  • This raises the risk of accidents or collisions and can void their insurance.
    — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of collision
Verb
  • An initial public offering was planned in 2021, but those plans were scuttled in 2023.
    — Sharon Edelson, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Record-low water levels along the Danube River have exposed dozens of German military shipwrecks near the Serbian town of Prahovo, where an estimated 200 vessels were deliberately scuttled by retreating Nazi forces in 1944.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of scuttle
Verb
  • This allegedly caused the cancellation of school recesses, and also ruining weddings and funerals.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Shane loves Ilya, but fears going public will ruin their careers.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of ruin
Noun
  • Nonetheless, the costs of intercepting incoming munitions could prove particularly high if targets are engaged over populated areas, with drones, defensive munitions and falling debris all posing risks to people and property on the ground.
    — David Brennan, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Photos and video shared on social media show debris thrown in the air and pummeling rain as a possible tornado touched down at Atlantic Beach on Long Island's outer barrier.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of debris
Noun
  • Four South Floridians have been killed in a helicopter crash in Kenya during a safari trip.
    — Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash with assistance from the Pennsylvania State Police, Bivens said.
    — Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of crash
Verb
  • In a passage from the Book of Acts, Paul is shipwrecked while sailing for Rome.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • They are subsequently shipwrecked, with Odysseus left as the sole survivor on the shores of Calypso’s island.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 July 2026
Definition of shipwreck

Phrases Containing wreck

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wreaths
wreck
wreckage
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Cite this Entry

“Wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreck. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of wreck for Spanish Speakers

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