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 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
But Parente says Martinez, who was shot five times after the crash, did not cause the wreck, arguing the agent was the person who actually initiated the contact by sideswiping his client, making the condition of his vehicle crucial to her defense. Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2025 For centuries, the wreck becomes the stuff of legends, with only the remote indigenous Guna Yala tribe privy to its exact location. Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
That sport is so incredible and wrecks your body. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025 Rodriguez never reported the crash and told co-workers that his car was stolen and wrecked, according to police. MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wreck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreck
Noun
  • The crash closed most of the westbound lanes of busy Interstate 10 in Ontario for several hours as CHP and crews investigated the wreck and cleared away wreckage.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Earlier this year, Miley Cyrus reflected on the wreckage and destruction caused by the fires that devastated multiple areas of Los Angeles.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The coaches also decided King’s wrecking-ball approach was effective.
    Seth Emerson, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The addresses listed in the wrecking permits border the east of the truck plant where Ford makes its iconic Super Duty trucks, Expedition SUVs and luxury Lincoln Navigators.
    Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Until Thursday, the exact length of the tugboat involved in the fatal collision was unknown as the Coast Guard did not release the name of the vessel.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
  • According to the Standard, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has reported more than 880 self-driving car collisions to date.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Hiding in dark places, scuttling in the daylight, allergic to real, authentic human contact.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Climate Central released a new version of the database yesterday, reproduced in full with new data collected since the project was scuttled.
    Christian Orozco, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
    Daniella Segura, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
  • The Chiefs have seen some of league’s premier running backs — such as Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs — and have met each challenge, preventing those elite players from ruining the defensive game plan.
    Emily Curiel, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Working from top to bottom means debris from the top will land on a dirty floor instead of a clean one.
    Kelsey Mulvey, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
  • The debris appears as a large cloud of dirty water seen beyond the shoals off Montego Bay.
    Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Following his rescue in the February crash, Waterman was brought to the hospital with severe injuries, including a spinal injury and trauma to his head and face, per the initial affidavit.
    Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Back in 2019, the RMV was under fire for allowing dangerous drivers on the roads in the wake of a fatal biker crash.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The four tried to sail across the sea but were shipwrecked in Spain, where all four of them survived and went on to their next adventure in Not Mexico together.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Two married sea-explorers are stranded, Gilligan-style, after a storm shipwrecks their craft.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreck. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.

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