wracking

verb

present participle of wrack
as in destroying
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 wracking Despite a nerve-wracking 1-0 start (before Bellingham knocked in a deuce), Jagger was seen looking grim and pacing around the VIP box. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026 As the casting process heats up to find a new 007, Famke Janssen, who starred opposite Pierce Brosnan in 1995’s GoldenEye, has recalled her nerve-wracking audition to land the part as Xenia Onatopp in the iconic James Bond franchise. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 28 June 2026 Gordon Ramsay, the guest Evans calls the most nerve-wracking booking of his career, has become a friend. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 18 June 2026 Bring Her Back unravels its disturbing secrets with nerve-wracking dread, relying more on ominous atmosphere than cheap jump scares. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026 But the job insecurity that’s wracking the wider workplace can effectively kill that sense of discovery. — Claire Zillman, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026 Rory McIlroy’s second consecutive Masters victory was a nerve-wracking affair — and now there’s data to prove it. — Ryan Brennan april 14, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026 The end of this semester at Morehouse College could be a nerve-wracking time for Aaron Fields. — Jason Armesto, AJC.com, 21 Mar. 2026 The RedHawks ultimately held on for a nerve-wracking 110-108 overtime victory to improve to 31-0 and become the 21st team to finish the regular season undefeated. — Brendan Marks, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wracking
  1. destroying
  2. ruining
  3. shattering
  4. wrecking
  5. devastating
  6. demolishing
  7. smashing
  8. overcoming
Verb
  • Keeping your lawn and garden well-maintained can also help reduce grasshopper populations by destroying their breeding habitat.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 21 July 2026
  • But the Pentagon’s youthful set of avid desk-warriors forget that big hurricanes and regional weather events regularly disrupt waterfront facilities on the Gulf and East coasts, destroying worker housing and permanently peeling away shipbuilders.
    — Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of destroying
Verb
  • Plus, one of the biggest things that holds people back from DIY is a fear of ruining their home, but that’s virtually impossible with peel-and-stick wallpaper.
    — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 13 July 2026
  • Clothes moths are indoor pests notorious for ruining the best threads in any closet.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2026
Definition of ruining
Verb
  • The tax, generally considered a barometer of the tourist industry’s health, has been on a 14-month tear, shattering all monthly revenue records and outpacing the rosiest of predictions by its closest followers.
    — Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026
  • While the franchise dates way back to gaming’s 16-bit era, its most recent release, 2020’s Streets of Rage 4, hit like a jaw-shattering Grand Hook with critics and fans alike.
    — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Definition of shattering
Verb
  • Long-distance backpacking is having a moment, and readers planning a first thru-hike want to know how to prepare without wrecking their body, their gear budget or their trip.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026
  • Most of the peril comes with dangerous ship-wrecking moments, including one that implies the death of Moana's relative, while our heroine herself almost drowns on her first voyage from land.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 July 2026
Definition of wrecking
Verb
  • Instead, Trump talks about devastating Iran’s infrastructure – hitting bridges and power plants.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Over 850 wildfires are currently devastating Canada, as reported by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of devastating
Verb
  • Western Newspaper Union Building Plans filed with the city show that the project would include demolishing and replacing an existing building on the site.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026
  • Concerns over demolishing the Excelsior Club The decision to demolish has sparked tension with local preservationists and historians.
    — Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 2026
Definition of demolishing
Verb
  • This actor, Yannis Kokiasmenos, came in for half a day and is holding his own, smashing this scene.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • Then, in minute 105, Spain finally broke through with midfielder Ferran Torres smashing one into the net off a deflection.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 19 July 2026
Definition of smashing
Verb
  • The biggest event in the sporting calendar drew to a close at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey as Spain were crowned world champions for the second time, overcoming Argentina in one of the most dominant finals in recent memory.
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Emotional intelligence, particularly self-awareness, is crucial to overcoming it.
    — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of overcoming

Browse Nearby Words

wracked
wracking
wracks
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wracking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wracking. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on wracking

Nglish: Translation of wracking for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of maverick

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

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

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

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

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All