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
But most of America was blissfully unaware of the havoc wreaked by urban renewal until Kelo, when the veil was lifted.
—
James Burling, Oc Register, 13 July 2025
So far, that’s the clearest warning from a U.S. authority about the damage tariffs could wreak.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 8 May 2025
Disagreements over who gets to keep the family photos can wreak just as much havoc on familial relationships as those over money.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 25 June 2025
Needless to say, considerable havoc will be wreaked.
—Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for wreak
James Burling, Oc Register, 13 July 2025
So far, that’s the clearest warning from a U.S. authority about the damage tariffs could wreak.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 8 May 2025
Disagreements over who gets to keep the family photos can wreak just as much havoc on familial relationships as those over money.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 25 June 2025
Needless to say, considerable havoc will be wreaked.
—Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for wreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreak
Verb
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The difference is that this time, the suffering is being inflicted by a state that should know too well the horrors of systemic dehumanization.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Aug. 2025
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Yet, despite inflicting relentless pain, their fury remains unquenched.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The decision was obvious to American sports lawyers, given that American courts reached the same conclusion as to similar restraints imposed by its sports leagues decades ago.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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In addition to pharma tariffs, Trump has threatened to impose across-the-board tariffs on semiconductors and lumber.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreak. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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