wreck 1 of 2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Drivers were warned of delays in the southbound direction following the wreck, which was reported to the California Highway Patrol at about noon, according to CHP dispatch traffic. Bay City News, Mercury News, 20 June 2026 Finding the wreck Official records detailing Hōfuku Maru’s sinking were incomplete and inconsistent, Beckensall said. Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 18 June 2026
Verb
Jane Ragsdale’s best friend Christine Chenoweth, a pastoral counselor and former Presbyterian minister, says the South Fork of the Guadalupe is now lousy and wrecked and haunted. Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026 As host, French President Emmanuel Macron has carved out time for the leaders to talk about how to rebalance trade with China, amid fears that soaring Chinese exports of cars and other products could wreck G-7 industries. John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wreck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreck
Noun
  • Yet the praise for Alcock feels like watching a plane crash and seeing just one person get miraculously thrown clear of the wreckage without a scratch.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 26 June 2026
  • Many Venezuelans were combing through wreckage in search of loved ones, while others turned to social media in an effort to find relatives and friends who had vanished in the disaster.
    Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026
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
Noun
  • The collision sent Bowie careening into a minivan parked nearby.
    Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
  • Now, a team of researchers assessed this signal and found a feature in the gravitational waves represents the collective event horizon of the involved black holes at the very moment of that collision.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • The court complaint against the utilities commission and the California Attorney General’s office asks for a court order declaring that California cannot stop AT&T from scuttling landlines.
    Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
  • The rationale was that any war Israel fought would inflame popular anti-Israeli sentiment in the Arab and Muslim world, scuttling the Abraham Accords as Arab governments would withdraw out of fear of backlash.
    Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Don't Worry Too Much About Saltwater Or Chlorine Many people assume a quick swim in the ocean or pool will ruin their sunglasses.
    Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 20 June 2026
  • Could the Boston Celtics or another team ruin the Heat’s plan, swooping in and trading for Antetokounmpo this offseason and getting a long-term commitment from him?
    Anthony Chiang June 19, Miami Herald, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • The heat softens and loosens debris in the carpet fibers so it can be vacuumed away.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 26 June 2026
  • Clean Up Birdseed and Debris Fallen birdseed and other organic debris serve as an open invitation to chipmunks.
    Nashia Baker, Martha Stewart, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Police said the investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash is ongoing.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 June 2026
  • Police say no pedestrians were hurt in the crash.
    DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, young boys gradually become feral and sadistic when trapped on an island together, and in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Prospero magically shipwrecks his brother and his allies so that they will all be exiled together under his watch.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
  • Unique experiences include shipwreck scuba diving in the Straits of Mackinac and checking out the sights from the stunning Castle Rock viewpoint.
    Katy Spratte Joyce, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreck. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on wreck

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster