as in destroyed
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
it's amazing how a raging sea can wrack a seemingly sturdy beachfront home
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Recent Examples of wracked
The recent discovery of what was initially thought to be an explosive device on a body brought to Indianapolis for examination could indicate more trouble at a neighboring county's coroner office already wracked by recent upheaval.
—
Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025
In a nation wracked by violence, some people became perpetrators, and others victims.
—Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Cristina Jaimez, the 60-year-old who lost her kidney medication, said that in the days after the sweep her body swelled and she had been wracked with pain.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
Sam is totally wracked with guilt about his violent past now.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Finally, Cailee Spaeny plays a prodigious cellist wracked with chronic pain.
—Esther Zuckerman, Time, 8 Sep. 2025
Defending Rayner became ever more challenging, given that Britain is wracked by a housing crisis and that Labour is considering raising taxes, including on property.
—Max Foster, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
He was wracked by a wicked cough, no doubt caused by his constant smoking.
—Kim Gordon, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
Disney-style optimism is an attractive trait for someone in a generation wracked by doom and anxiety.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 3 Sep. 2025
Noe Padilla, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025
In a nation wracked by violence, some people became perpetrators, and others victims.
—Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Cristina Jaimez, the 60-year-old who lost her kidney medication, said that in the days after the sweep her body swelled and she had been wracked with pain.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
Sam is totally wracked with guilt about his violent past now.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2025
Finally, Cailee Spaeny plays a prodigious cellist wracked with chronic pain.
—Esther Zuckerman, Time, 8 Sep. 2025
Defending Rayner became ever more challenging, given that Britain is wracked by a housing crisis and that Labour is considering raising taxes, including on property.
—Max Foster, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
He was wracked by a wicked cough, no doubt caused by his constant smoking.
—Kim Gordon, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
Disney-style optimism is an attractive trait for someone in a generation wracked by doom and anxiety.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wracked
Verb
-
Though most of his property was destroyed in the fire, a carnival operator named Bunny Gibbons bought Gein's car and charged 25 cents for people to view it until authorities shut down the operation.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The Gaza Strip itself has been nearly leveled, with the United Nations estimating 78% of structures having been damaged or destroyed, leaving a monumental task of rebuilding for whoever will govern the enclave next.—
Emily Feng,
NPR,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
All the problems getting into the ground ruined the trip a bit.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
In 1950s Washington, the moral entrepreneurs were members of Congress and expert witnesses who labeled people Soviet collaborators and ruined many of their lives.—
Ron Barrett,
The Conversation,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Each episode explores how Taylor shattered Hollywood’s glass ceiling, built a billion-dollar business empire, and transformed celebrity activism through her pioneering work in the fight against HIV/AIDS.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Jeff sustained a gunshot wound that shattered his ankle, receiving two surgeries to remove the bullet and leather from his foot.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Inter Milan footballing midfield maestro, and his wife Sinem, have teamed up to announce the creation of the Çalhanoğlu Forest, an initiative that will see 10,000 saplings (young trees) planted in the Aydın Province of Kuşadası, which was devastated by wildfires in June 2024.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Still, the damage is done, and Ka-young is devastated by the death of her grandmother.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Atlanta Braves Speaking of injuries, the fragile nature of the human body really wrecked Brian Snitker’s swan song.—
Levi Weaver,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
America will be watching Monday night’s early game, perhaps in much the same way traffic can’t help but slow to watch two cars that have just wrecked.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The West Fond du Lac Avenue bar, which was once a popular hangout for Black musicians and Milwaukee police officers alike, was demolished in April.—
Mary Spicuzza,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The Jokake Inn closed in the late 1970s and was demolished, except for its Pueblo revival-style belfry towers, which were incorporated into The Phoenician.—
Douglas C. Towne,
AZCentral.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This once-passing fad, never projected by the originators or detractors to make it this far, had smashed every measurable and monetizable metric over the last half century.—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
-
At least four people were killed and eight injured when a gunman in a pickup truck smashed through the doors of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan during a Sunday service attended by hundreds, opened fire and set the building ablaze.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Married Matt and Amber Barnett overcame a little bit of jealousy and a lot of credit card debt to cultivate a stable relationship.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Mookie Betts overcame his past October struggles and was their steadiest presence.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wracked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wracked. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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