1
as in devastation
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
the wreckage of those ancient statues represents a great loss to the art world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rubble
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed
the wreckage of the cathedral was kept as a memorial and as a reminder of war's terrible cost
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wreckage
Cars stretched back as far as the eye could see as first responders evaluated the wreckage and rushed those injured to local hospitals.
—
Christina Fan,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
At the apartment complex, the rescuers approached the wreckage’s largest opening, which looked like a mouth agape in shock.
—
Armando Ledezma,
New Yorker,
30 June 2026
The body of a missing 28-year-old Placer County man was found in the wreckage of his car below a cliff off Mosquito Ridge Road in Placer County, California Highway Patrol officials said Tuesday.
—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2026
The three, adrenaline pumping, clambered through the pancaked wreckage.
—
Mery Mogollón,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreckage
Christina Fan,
CBS News,
30 June 2026
At the apartment complex, the rescuers approached the wreckage’s largest opening, which looked like a mouth agape in shock.
—
Armando Ledezma,
New Yorker,
30 June 2026
The body of a missing 28-year-old Placer County man was found in the wreckage of his car below a cliff off Mosquito Ridge Road in Placer County, California Highway Patrol officials said Tuesday.
—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
30 June 2026
The three, adrenaline pumping, clambered through the pancaked wreckage.
—
Mery Mogollón,
Los Angeles Times,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreckage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreckage
Noun
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Following years of economic devastation and underinvestment in public services, the country’s infrastructure – from hospitals to electricity and water – is ill-equipped to deal with a crisis like this.
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And then there's water damage and the devastation caused by flooding.
Noun
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Some held torches to light the way as floodlights appeared to illuminate the rubble against the darkness of night.
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Rescuers have fanned out across La Guaira, where the worst destruction occurred, and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent days pulling survivors and victims from the rubble.
Noun
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At least, there was a lot less wrecking.
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The Ravens haven’t really had that game-wrecking pass rusher since Terrell Suggs was in his prime.
Noun
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Rodríguez said authorities have recorded 862 aftershocks since the main quakes and confirmed that 189 buildings collapsed completely nationwide, the vast majority in La Guaira, the coastal state that suffered the worst destruction.
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Our previous card featured the fiery destruction of the Missouri Pacific depot in 1909.
Noun
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Rodríguez denied those claims, saying some remote areas were difficult to reach because roads were blocked by landslides and debris, forcing authorities to rely on motorcycles, drones and satellite imagery.
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Seconds later, a powerful explosion blasted through the doorway, shattering windows and sending vertical blinds and debris flying as firefighters quickly retreated from the building.
Noun
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Neither alcohol nor drugs appeared to factor in the fatal wreck.
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Mental health support usually means stop ignoring the conditions that wreck performance.
Noun
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The beloved southern elephant seal, Neil the Seal, is back in Tasmania, causing havoc yet again and garnering fans through his antics.
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Those same issues have ships and planes on high alert in the Middle East, and the ongoing conflict across the region is causing havoc for civilian applications like ride-hailing and food delivery.
Noun
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As a reminder, the Mission San Juan Capistrano tour ends at the ruins of what’s now called the Great Stone Church, which collapsed in an 1812 earthquake that killed 40 Acjachemen worshippers.
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The engineer flew in from Tampa to try and find her mother, sister, brother-in-law and nephew in the ruins of their nine-story apartment building, sleeping on the ground since arriving two nights ago.
Cite this Entry
“Wreckage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreckage. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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