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
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
Then came the nerve-wracking part — bringing it to Jackson himself.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 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
These sequences of process and investigation are captured with all the verve and nerve-wracking tension of a slick spy thriller, aided by a detailed, thundering soundscape sure to leave you on edge.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
In Southern California, Hollywood Burbank and Van Nuys Airports are well known to pilots for their high volume of mixed airplane and helicopter traffic, creating a complex and nerve-wracking operating environment.
—Marc Scribner, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026
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
Then came the nerve-wracking part — bringing it to Jackson himself.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 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
These sequences of process and investigation are captured with all the verve and nerve-wracking tension of a slick spy thriller, aided by a detailed, thundering soundscape sure to leave you on edge.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026
In Southern California, Hollywood Burbank and Van Nuys Airports are well known to pilots for their high volume of mixed airplane and helicopter traffic, creating a complex and nerve-wracking operating environment.
—Marc Scribner, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wracking
Verb
-
Strikes and artillery fire were reported across Nabatieh district, destroying homes and residential buildings, according to NNA.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
-
One video shows a surface to air missile hitting a drone but not destroying it; the drone crashes to the ground and explodes.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The Cowboys are like most NFL teams that roll out a synthetic surface that has a grass feel, and is vastly superior to the old knee-ruining ways of AstroTurf.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
-
The Dodgers are ruining baseball!—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
The brand was already the most searched name on Ulta’s site before the line expanded to the retailer’s 1,500-plus doors in February, shattering sales records and becoming the chain’s largest brand launch ever.—
Danielle Directo-Meston,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2026
-
Ratings from the opening match went through the roof, shattering records.—
Michael Lewis,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
What is in tandem here is the exuberantly generative possibility of life itself (SCOBY, water) alongside the very synthetic polymers that are literally wrecking life on an individual and systemic level.—
Eugenie Brinkema,
ARTnews.com,
14 June 2026
-
Belt-Stubblefield did not stop and ended up wrecking his car.—
Michael Abeyta,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
But Saeta, which has been outfitting the team since coming to its rescue after the country’s devastating 2010 earthquake, has been struggling to keep up with demands, creating an opening for designers and other vendors selling unofficial merchandise.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
-
The British government refused to subsidize food prices or restrict exports of Irish agricultural goods, further devastating the island.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Indeed, many media observers—inside and outside the network—have gone so far as to suggest that demolishing the status quo seems to be central to Weiss’s mandate.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
-
In February 2024, police gave him and his wife minutes to pack before demolishing their home.—
Sam Mednick,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The tension in these tracks are the binding agent for Jane’s fan base — the music is full of contradictions and incompatibilities smashing together that just feel like being young right now.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
Last week, a group of people swarmed Noureddine Bitat's taxi, stomping on it and smashing its windshield.—
Kelsie Hoffman,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Biden, who has spoken at length about overcoming drug addiction, claims to be at least $15 million in debt.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2026
-
Many training programs for travel consultants (or really for anybody who works in sales) include tactics on overcoming objections.—
Scott Laird,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wracking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wracking. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
