wreaks; wreaked; wreaking
: to cause (something very harmful or damaging)
Gangs have been wreaking mayhem in the city.
—usually + on or uponThe hurricane wreaked terrible damage/destruction on coastal cities.
the devastation that alcoholism can wreak upon families
The virus wreaked havoc on my computer. [=the virus caused great damage to my computer]
He swore to wreak vengeance/revenge on them.
Cite this Entry
“Wreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/wreak. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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