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
Despite the economic chaos wreaked by the Trump administration’s unilateral imposition of tariffs on trading partners, first unleashed on April 2, the European Union has sizable leverage on trade.
—
Arancha González Laya, Foreign Affairs, 12 May 2025
Farr’s living in the Los Angeles area has also brought her close-up views of the havoc that wildfires can wreak.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Canada lands at Cannes with a mission to shift the conversation — on the Croisette, at least — from the havoc U.S. tariffs could wreak on the global film industry to the benefits of creative collaboration and co-production with Canadian talent and companies.
—Jennie Punter, Variety, 15 May 2025
The film rocketed back in time to show the havoc the creature wreaked on a group of Native Americans in the Great Plains during the 18th century.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wreak
Arancha González Laya, Foreign Affairs, 12 May 2025
Farr’s living in the Los Angeles area has also brought her close-up views of the havoc that wildfires can wreak.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
Canada lands at Cannes with a mission to shift the conversation — on the Croisette, at least — from the havoc U.S. tariffs could wreak on the global film industry to the benefits of creative collaboration and co-production with Canadian talent and companies.
—Jennie Punter, Variety, 15 May 2025
The film rocketed back in time to show the havoc the creature wreaked on a group of Native Americans in the Great Plains during the 18th century.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreak
Verb
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But so far, Trump has taken no action, and Russia continued to inflict pain on Ukraine as well.—
Shannon K. Kingston,
ABC News,
2 June 2025
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Nothing can justify the number of civilian casualties (tens of thousands of women and children) inflicted by Israel in Gaza in the last two years.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Now that Trump has sidestepped Congress and claimed the right to impose tariffs at will, Woldenberg is taking on the White House directly.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
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That gave the coaches at least an idea of how the two young linemen move on their feet without a defensive end imposing his weight, will and strength on them.—
Brad Biggs,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreak. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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