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
It’s also been empty since 2020, leaving the 45-story behemoth as the city’s largest vacant office building at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic was wreaking havoc on the office market.
—
Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 15 May 2026
More than 100 peacocks are wreaking havoc in the Italian seaside town of Punta Marina on the Adriatic coast, leading to local divisions over what to do about the swelling colony.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Wildfires continue to burn in Florida, wreaking havoc in parts of the state.
—Bianca Harris, USA Today, 12 May 2026
While many homeowners view trees through the lens of maintenance costs — regular pruning can be expensive, and tree roots can wreak havoc on sidewalks and underground pipes — the benefits of trees are numerous and well-documented, experts say.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreak
Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 15 May 2026
More than 100 peacocks are wreaking havoc in the Italian seaside town of Punta Marina on the Adriatic coast, leading to local divisions over what to do about the swelling colony.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Wildfires continue to burn in Florida, wreaking havoc in parts of the state.
—Bianca Harris, USA Today, 12 May 2026
While many homeowners view trees through the lens of maintenance costs — regular pruning can be expensive, and tree roots can wreak havoc on sidewalks and underground pipes — the benefits of trees are numerous and well-documented, experts say.
—Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreak
Verb
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And then there’s a lot of debate about how much damage has been inflicted on the Iranians in turn.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
20 May 2026
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When Hitler turned his eyes to the east and invaded the Soviet Union during Operation Barbarossa, German forces inflicted a series of stunning losses against the Soviets, thereby demonstrating the supremacy of their Panzer III and Panzer IV designs.—
Matthew S Williams,
Interesting Engineering,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Although no criminal charges have been filed against Diaz, MLB’s personal conduct policy allows the league to impose significant discipline regardless of the legal outcome.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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The Council last year passed legislation imposing significantly more restrictions on outdoor dining compared to the loose regulations allowing restaurants to participate with few barriers during the pandemic.—
Josephine Stratman,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreak. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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