wreck 1 of 2

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 shipwreck
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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Examples 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
With seven laps remaining before the end of the stage, Mayer pushed Retzlaff, who had begun the race in the pole position, sending him off the track and starting a multi-car wreck. David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024 Writing for the North Carolina Folklore Journal in 2000, Laura Sutton captured a moment in time when spray paint on the new bridge honored three high school students who died in car wrecks in the late ’90s, while graffiti on the old bridge commemorated Lydia’s tragedy nearly a century before. Elizabeth Friend, Longreads, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
Swept Away builds its story between Mignonette and the real-life story of the Mignonette ship, which wrecked while at sea in July 1884. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024 The journey was short-lived, as a hurricane wrecked the fleet just seven days later off the coast of Eastern Florida. Jordan D. Brown, CNN, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wreck 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreck
Noun
  • Otherwise, the familial wreckage Leonard caused is unconscionable, but sadly not that uncommon — and also not that impactful with the gentle acoustic-guitar score continually making apologies on his behalf.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
  • But he's left a trail of wreckage along the the way.
    Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 2 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Previous observations from Hubble in 1994 hinted at the complexity of quasar environments, suggesting that galactic collisions and mergers play a key role in powering these celestial giants.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
  • While that collision was briefly avoided due to COVID-19, California once again is confronted with a Gann issue that can no longer be ignored.
    Jon Coupal, Orange County Register, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The Democratic Party, particularly, is prone to shipwrecking on the shoals of unretiring seniors.
    Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024
  • Adrian: Adrian is a minor character in The Tempest who is shipwrecked on the island.
    Kara Nesvig, Parents, 14 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Over time, this can take away a company's competitive edge or even ruin its reputation with future talent.
    Subha Barry, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
  • This increases the risk of electrical shocks, fire, and short circuits, which can ruin your holidays.
    Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • By late 2024, the agency distributed more than $1.2 billion in direct assistance to survivors of the Helene and Milton hurricanes, with another $1.1 billion allocated for debris removal and other measures.
    Micheline Maynard, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Geminid meteors are caused by dust and debris left in the inner solar system, not by a comet — as is usually the case for meteor showers — but by an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon, which hurtles through the solar system every 18 months.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • By the lights not sufficiently illuminating the roadway, the risk of a crash increases, the company said in a NHTSA report.
    Ahjané Forbes, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024
  • Authorities are asking that anyone with videos or photos of the crash send them to PSCityGovernmentMedia@palmspringsca.gov.
    Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Speaking with reporters once Rowe had left, Fallon said the Secret Service agent who brought the 9/11 photo to his attention had implied the leader inappropriately scuttled the security team.
    Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 5 Dec. 2024
  • In issuing the executive clemency grant, the president also scuttled his earlier pledge not to pardon his son.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Meanwhile, almost 20 American naval vessels and more than 300 airplanes were destroyed or damaged.
    Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Shacks and buildings were left completely destroyed when the cyclone struck the nation hampered by poverty.
    Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreck. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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