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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The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015) Moody and intricate (sometimes maddeningly so), this debut from Oz Perkins (son of Psycho star Anthony) inflicts supernatural horror and grief upon the students of a Catholic boarding school.—
Dennis Perkins,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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That no one should be able to inflict such damage upon the country.—
Dan Perry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 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 1 Nov. 2025.
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