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
Expect Williams and Murphy to wreak similar havoc.
—
Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
Growing up, my grandmother had a whole gaggle of grandkids, including myself, who loved to hang out at her house and wreak a good amount of havoc together.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
This alliance, Hotez says, is wreaking immeasurable damage to Americans’ trust in science and healthcare.
—Will Carless, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Max wreaks some more havoc after the excursion by gunning it on the tender while towing guests on the tube.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreak
Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
Growing up, my grandmother had a whole gaggle of grandkids, including myself, who loved to hang out at her house and wreak a good amount of havoc together.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Jan. 2026
This alliance, Hotez says, is wreaking immeasurable damage to Americans’ trust in science and healthcare.
—Will Carless, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
Max wreaks some more havoc after the excursion by gunning it on the tender while towing guests on the tube.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreak
Verb
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The misery inflicted on the thousands of Maryland commuters is merely the stick to drive more people to consider ailing public transportation options.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Mar. 2026
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There is humor and there is drama, as Rhoda is inflicted with tuberculosis and hospitalized in suburban Winfield and Denver.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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More importantly, the law imposes a hard ceiling of 150 days.—
Jay Caruso,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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She was becoming influenced by social scientists such as the French philosopher Auguste Comte, who were less concerned with enshrining individual rights than with imposing a social order—a departure from her earlier universalist thinking.—
Moira Donegan,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreak. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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