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
These pesky insects can wreak havoc on your plants, so a little preparation goes a long way.
—
Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026
This week’s second-to-last episode sees the conditions around Widow’s Bay deteriorating, as the reignited Warren curse on the island wreaks havoc.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2026
Many people always say that after a weather event wreaks its way through a community, that's the exact time community is needed.
—Jessica Riley, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Youths wreaked havoc on Lee’s Summit’s Downtown Days on Saturday evening, and law enforcement eventually scattered attendees with threats of Tasers and pepper balls.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreak
Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026
This week’s second-to-last episode sees the conditions around Widow’s Bay deteriorating, as the reignited Warren curse on the island wreaks havoc.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2026
Many people always say that after a weather event wreaks its way through a community, that's the exact time community is needed.
—Jessica Riley, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Youths wreaked havoc on Lee’s Summit’s Downtown Days on Saturday evening, and law enforcement eventually scattered attendees with threats of Tasers and pepper balls.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreak
Verb
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While most of those visitors are coming with good intentions, there’s always the possibility that bad actors will take advantage of the crowds and commotion to cause damage and inflict harm.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 June 2026
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Alabama's relatively new nitrogen gas execution method could inflict a cruel amount of pain and suffering on a death row inmate who says that he'd rather be killed by a firing squad, a federal appeals court has ruled.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The design was simple yet imposing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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The proposal would require extensive recordkeeping and impose steep fines on repair shops, recyclers, pawn shops and secondhand dealers that traffic in undocumented airbags.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreak. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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