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
His savage, untutored mind suggested no better way than that of wreaking vengeance upon those who had wronged him.
—
Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 21 Feb. 2025
Trump placed his political differences with Newsom to one side during his hourslong itinerary in California at the end of his first week of being president again to survey the destruction wreaked in and around Los Angeles by the fires.
—Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Feb. 2025
The Artist Known as Muse is here to wreak some bloody havoc.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 21 Mar. 2025
This also feels like a reflection of Rick’s own fragile emotional state, and the capacity of this lonely, miserable, perhaps misunderstood character to wreak destruction.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wreak
Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 21 Feb. 2025
Trump placed his political differences with Newsom to one side during his hourslong itinerary in California at the end of his first week of being president again to survey the destruction wreaked in and around Los Angeles by the fires.
—Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 6 Feb. 2025
The Artist Known as Muse is here to wreak some bloody havoc.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 21 Mar. 2025
This also feels like a reflection of Rick’s own fragile emotional state, and the capacity of this lonely, miserable, perhaps misunderstood character to wreak destruction.
—Judy Berman, TIME, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreak
Verb
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And, in violation of the fundamental separation of power principles on which our Constitution is based, Trump has set himself up as prosecutor, judge, and jury, claiming the right to inflict punishment on specific groups or individuals with the stroke of his pen.—
James Speyer,
New York Daily News,
18 Apr. 2025
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Although the president has been unhappy with Powell for years, his most recent comments came after the Fed chair spoke at an event in Chicago and said the administration’s sweeping tariffs were larger than expected and that the lingering uncertainty could inflict lasting economic damage.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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On the first day of his second term, Trump issued executive orders to withdraw from the UN Paris climate accord and the World Health Organization and imposed a 90-day pause on all delivery of U.S. foreign aid.—
Ngaire Woods,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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As a result, experts have said a one-size-fits-all rate like what the White House imposed on steel, aluminum and cars would be devastating.—
Joseph Choi,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreak. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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