WRECKAGE Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

wreckage

noun

ˈre-kij

Definition of wreckage

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

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

as in wrecking

the destruction or loss of a ship debris floated ashore for weeks after the wreckage

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 wreckage The wreckage of the plane and 10 of the servicemen were never found. — Hope McKenney, NPR, 1 Aug. 2026 Emergency responders rushed to the scene after the crash, with aerial footage showing firefighters spraying fire retardant on the burning wreckage while thick black smoke rose above the base. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026 Survivors spoke about coming home and desperately pulling family members out of the wreckage. — CBS News, 30 July 2026 Survivors spoke about desperately pulling family members out of the wreckage. — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wreckage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreckage

Noun

Scientists expect more wildfire devastation as people move closer to danger and climate change ups wildfire risk.

— Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
However, the article emphasizes socialism's historical failures, citing the collapse of the Soviet Union and Venezuela's severe economic devastation under socialist policies.

— Mike Patton, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of devastation

Noun

Ser Roxton finds Ormund’s corpse, while Gwayne searches among the rubble and ash for young Daeron.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
On Saturday, recovery operations concluded at the Karam Building in Gaza after 19 bodies were found under the rubble, according to the Gaza civil defense.

— Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of rubble

Noun

Since October 2023, the number and severity of settler attacks have skyrocketed, including arson and other destruction of property, the killing of livestock, violent assaults and murder, taking place almost every day.

— Kamel Musallet, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
While the film has long been remembered for ambition, excess, and destruction, Tyga saw another narrative waiting beneath the chaos—a love story.

— Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of destruction

Noun

Surveillance footage obtained by The News shows the explosion erupting on the building’s second floor, sending glass and other debris rocketing across the street.

— Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
The update was published 10 weeks after the hot fire test anomaly, and in parallel Blue Origin has rapidly been working to clear debris around the sprawling Launch Complex 36-A site in Florida and starting to rebuild a launch tower.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of debris

Noun

There are about 350 artifacts recovered from the Titanic wreck site, with the centerpiece being a massive, 16-ton section of the hull.

— Mike Avila, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Having entered the business in the 1970s and shepherded clients through the post-2000 tech-wreck and then the global financial crisis, he has lately been fixated on the prospect that the secular bull market that began in 2009 is in its waning phase.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of wreck

Noun

The tropical storm hit Japan days after Typhoon Dolphin created havoc in parts of southern Japan, paralyzing traffic and sending hundreds to take shelter.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
At the center of the effort was sixth-year linebacker Nick Bolton, the quarterback of the unit, who focused on galvanizing the troops to create havoc and slow down an offense that had been humming earlier in the frame.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of havoc

Noun

The production used cliff-top industrial ruins, working harbor settings and historic churches around Cornwall to build its atmosphere.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026
The archeological ruins of the Villa of Tiberius, the Roman emperor who ruled from 17 to 42 CE, were long rumored to lie somewhere between Rome and Naples.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of ruins

Browse Nearby Words

wreck

wreckage

wreckages

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Wreckage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreckage. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of wreckage

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on wreckage

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

salvo

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes