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
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Recent Examples of wracking
Snow, ice, tight merges, and heavy traffic can turn even short journeys into slow, nerve-wracking drives.
—
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 24 Jan. 2026
From stomach-churning eating challenges to nerve-wracking physical feats, the competition pushes contestants to their limits in pursuit of the coveted title.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 16 Jan. 2026
Still, the advance notice could help a tenant avoid wracking up a legal history, which can make finding another apartment difficult.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
Local officials began wracking their brains for future uses for the sprawling, 53-acre site, which includes older buildings, and some that hold historic designations.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Dec. 2025
After weeks of captivating blind auditions, nerve-wracking eliminations and the high-stakes playoffs round, each coach selected one artist from their team to advance to the finale.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025
While these weeks of celebration can sometimes lead to wracking up too many expenses, luckily, finding the perfect gift doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune.
—Melissa Locker, Time, 17 Nov. 2025
Manville and Strong crackle together — their chemistry is steamy and genuine and, in some of the production’s best moments, after all terrible secrets have been revealed, so is their body-wracking devastation.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Over nerve-wracking cellphone calls, video chats and in-person conversations, the various players desperately try to figure out who fired and how, and some even question if there’s a missile at all.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 24 Jan. 2026
From stomach-churning eating challenges to nerve-wracking physical feats, the competition pushes contestants to their limits in pursuit of the coveted title.
—Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 16 Jan. 2026
Still, the advance notice could help a tenant avoid wracking up a legal history, which can make finding another apartment difficult.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 4 Jan. 2026
Local officials began wracking their brains for future uses for the sprawling, 53-acre site, which includes older buildings, and some that hold historic designations.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Dec. 2025
After weeks of captivating blind auditions, nerve-wracking eliminations and the high-stakes playoffs round, each coach selected one artist from their team to advance to the finale.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025
While these weeks of celebration can sometimes lead to wracking up too many expenses, luckily, finding the perfect gift doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune.
—Melissa Locker, Time, 17 Nov. 2025
Manville and Strong crackle together — their chemistry is steamy and genuine and, in some of the production’s best moments, after all terrible secrets have been revealed, so is their body-wracking devastation.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Over nerve-wracking cellphone calls, video chats and in-person conversations, the various players desperately try to figure out who fired and how, and some even question if there’s a missile at all.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wracking
Verb
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The court also convicted Han of falsifying the martial law proclamation and destroying it and lying under oath.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
22 Jan. 2026
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Where, in the springtime, sudden storms send tornadoes tearing through towns, destroying everything in their wake.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And, from this week’s issue, Nicola Twilley’s reporting on another lingering effect of the wildfires—smoke taint that is ruining grapes and threatening California’s wine industry.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
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The video then shows the man asking if the situation was ruining Kaleel's Christmas.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Yet for all of Malinin’s athleticism and his Beamonesque ability to take flight what has been most telling in what has already been a world record-shattering Olympic season has been the maturity of his skating, the willingness to take emotional risks in his programs.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
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Bana and Rocha were among the 615 participants in the 27th annual Waukegan Polar Bear Plunge on Thursday at the Waukegan Municipal Beach, shattering the record of 540 set in 2024, and collectively raising more than $20,000 for Special Recreation Services of Northern Lake County.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Luddites are back, wrecking technology in a quixotic effort to stop progress.—
Craig S. Smith,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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Givaudan initiated the process to receive a wrecking permit in August and has been working over the past few months to get the proper approval from various agencies, including Louisville MSD and the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District.—
Killian Baarlaer,
Louisville Courier Journal,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While an eight-game winning run saw Cherki, Foden and Haaland hit their devastating best, three frustrating draws against Sunderland, Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion were characterised by wastefulness in front of goal.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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Group members want to see Bonta’s office take ownership of a review, as occurred in Hawaii after Maui’s devastating Lahaina fire.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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On Thursday morning, crews were nearly finished demolishing the adjacent structures, one of which was damaged by a fire in March 2024.—
Thomas Gounley,
Denver Post,
23 Jan. 2026
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Police forces, alongside enforcement officers from the Israel Land Authority, arrived at the compound with bulldozers and engineering equipment and began demolishing the site, according to footage obtained by CNN.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Typical 30-minute sessions cost between £35 and £70, although some slots can rise to £200, depending on the size of the room and the number of items up for smashing.—
Will Barker,
TheWeek,
22 Jan. 2026
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Bystanders have recorded video of officers using a battering ram to get into a house as well as smashing vehicle windows and dragging people out of cars.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This classic ranchera song was originally released in 1963 and is a metaphor for overcoming life’s difficult moments.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
23 Jan. 2026
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The first query was about injuries, a season-long theme both in terms of hard luck and overcoming adversity in a 13-6 season that included a wild-card playoff win.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wracking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wracking. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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