wreckage

noun

wreck·​age ˈre-kij 

1

: the act of wrecking : the state of being wrecked

2

a

: something that has been wrecked

b

: broken and disordered parts or material from something wrecked

Synonyms of wreckage

• devastation
• destruction
• havoc
• demolition
• loss
• extinction

Examples of wreckage in a Sentence

Workers sifted through the wreckage of the building, searching for bodies.

They cleared the wreckage from the track.

Recent Examples on the Web

Bong’s nephews went with the search team to bring the wreckage home. — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

In May, Trooper Teddy Henderson rammed a vehicle off Arkansas 118 in Mississippi County and was surprised to see a 3-year-old toddler crawl out of the wreckage, unharmed. — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 7 Aug. 2026

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which already orbits the moon, should provide before and after photos of the wreckage site in the next few weeks. — Scott Laird, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026

Footage shared on social media showed the smoking wreckage of what appeared to be a small plane on arid plains. — Joe Kottke, NBC news, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

wreckage

noun

wreck·​age ˈrek-ij 

1

a

: the act of wrecking

b

: the state of being wrecked

2

: the remains of a wreck