as in to inflict
to cause to suffer punishment or vengeance for
wreaked their vengeance on those they considered enemies
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Recent Examples of wreak
To better understand how these storms can wreak so much havoc, our research team created simulations to show how storms interact with Earth’s natural magnetic shield and trigger the dangerous geomagnetic activity that can shut down electric grids.
—
Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025
Almost serpentine in her shimmering elegance, Thompson’s Hedda glides from room to room wreaking social havoc with her guests, an old lover, and even her husband that will, ultimately, have tragic consequences for all.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Once during tax time to prepare for open-toe season, and again when fall begins to recover from the damage open-toe season has wreaked — so this weekend would be a perfect time!
—Lauren Silbert, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Phthalates and bisphenols, both of which can wreak damage on the hormone system, have a slew of negative health impacts, according to a large and growing body of science.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wreak
Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025
Almost serpentine in her shimmering elegance, Thompson’s Hedda glides from room to room wreaking social havoc with her guests, an old lover, and even her husband that will, ultimately, have tragic consequences for all.
—Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025
Once during tax time to prepare for open-toe season, and again when fall begins to recover from the damage open-toe season has wreaked — so this weekend would be a perfect time!
—Lauren Silbert, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Phthalates and bisphenols, both of which can wreak damage on the hormone system, have a slew of negative health impacts, according to a large and growing body of science.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreak
Verb
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Vipers and elapids strike more elegantly before their victims are even aware of their presence, while colubrid bites inflict the maximum amount of damage.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
23 Oct. 2025
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Nightfall at Old Tucson For 2025, Nightfall at Old Tucson is going to the circus with Dabney the Clown and his band of evil brethren who will stop at nothing to inflict as much fear as possible.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Judge Steven Denny imposed the 60-year sentence that same day.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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He was forced to accept it, because it was imposed on him.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreak. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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