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
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
1
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
James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
An underwater robot circled the wreck site of the USS Monitor to get new high-res images of the famous ship.
—Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2026
Michael Salfino, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Kim Gartner, whose nephew's property was wrecked in storms overnight in Kankakee, described softball-sized hail that shattered car windows.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreck
Noun
The four victims were driving home from a concert on the night of the wreck and several contacted their families after the initial crash, according to attorney Darren Aitken, who represents the families in a civil lawsuit against the CHP.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
An underwater robot circled the wreck site of the USS Monitor to get new high-res images of the famous ship.
—Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
In Roto baseball, poor performances in pitching can wreck your team indefinitely and even permanently.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Kim Gartner, whose nephew's property was wrecked in storms overnight in Kankakee, described softball-sized hail that shattered car windows.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreck
Noun
-
The strike caused an intense fire at the hospital, with footage from local television showing rescue crews combing through the wreckage with flashlights late into the night as firefighters struggled to extinguish the blaze.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Crews are expected to work over the coming weeks to clear the wreckage and make way for the construction of a permanent memorial to the victims, a project slated to be completed in September 2027.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Mar. 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
-
Senate Bill 26-141 would create a wildlife collision prevention fund in Colorado.—
Olivia Young,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center plans to incorporate bird-friendly glass, a move aimed at reducing deadly collisions with reflective surfaces.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Unbeknownst to him, the Creature manages to escape by using his supernatural strength to tear off his chains and scuttle through a drainage pipe to freedom.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Baltimore’s decision to scuttle the deal to send two first-round picks to the Las Vegas Raiders for Crosby after the 28-year-old failed the team’s physical was already under fire, with some around the league wondering whether the Ravens had a case of buyer’s remorse.—
Dianna Russini,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Now, months later, residents say the gunfire has shattered their peace, ruining quiet strolls and sunsets on the neighborhood’s lakes.—
Christopher Spata,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Everything looked incredible… until the teams started playing and ruined it a bit.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Images from the scene showed debris scattered across the yard.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
After a catastrophic debris strike destroys their shuttle during a spacewalk, Sandra Bullock’s astronaut is left untethered, spinning silently against the vastness of space, while George Clooney’s veteran astronaut tries to guide her from a distance.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
All six crew members of a KC-135 Air Force refueling aircraft were killed last week in a plane crash over friendly territory in western Iraq while supporting operations against Iran.—
DARLENE SUPERVILLE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
-
According to Quigley’s attendance and overtime sheet, he is noted as working five hours the day of the crash with three hours of personal time.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This reimagining of the classic tale of the white European male shipwrecked on a desert island is brave, funny, wild and spellbinding.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Your host, Miranda, offers a back story to the project that involves her family of scientists being shipwrecked on an island off South America upon which many of the dinosaurs somehow survived to the present day.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreck. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
