as in inflicting
to cause to suffer punishment or vengeance for
wreaked their vengeance on those they considered enemies
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Recent Examples of wreaking
Back in Peshawar, a stone’s throw from the hospital wing, some of the weapons wreaking new havoc along Pakistan’s mineral belt were laid out for CNN to see.
—
Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 3 Feb. 2026
This alliance, Hotez says, is wreaking immeasurable damage to Americans’ trust in science and healthcare.
—Will Carless, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
While people’s claims history, inflation, higher labor and construction costs play into increases nationwide, Coloradans face the additional burden of living in a state where the risk is high of catastrophes wreaking billions of dollars in damage.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025
Texas Tech started slow in Manhattan, but the dam eventually broke due to Tech’s havoc-wreaking defense.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 2 Nov. 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
Across the industry, however, the coronavirus outbreak is wreaking economic havoc.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Apr. 2020
Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 3 Feb. 2026
This alliance, Hotez says, is wreaking immeasurable damage to Americans’ trust in science and healthcare.
—Will Carless, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
While people’s claims history, inflation, higher labor and construction costs play into increases nationwide, Coloradans face the additional burden of living in a state where the risk is high of catastrophes wreaking billions of dollars in damage.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025
Texas Tech started slow in Manhattan, but the dam eventually broke due to Tech’s havoc-wreaking defense.
—Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 2 Nov. 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
Across the industry, however, the coronavirus outbreak is wreaking economic havoc.
—IEEE Spectrum, 14 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreaking
Verb
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Heathcliff then returns, years later and bearing a mysterious windfall of newfound wealth, with the express goal of inflicting as much cruelty and pain as possible on the remaining members of the Earnshaw and Linton families.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
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But Kaszas’ ultimate destiny had nothing to do with inflicting — or receiving — bruises, contusions or broken limbs.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Both the Times of London and the Daily Telegraph reviewed Newman’s book poorly, with an air of anti-woke ennui, accusing her of imposing contemporary moral standards on the vices of the past.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
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Miller liked Codie’s stats, but the coach also emphasized that those nine points and six rebounds didn’t accurately reflect how effective Codie played against an imposing frontline for Missouri.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Councilmember Monica Rodriguez voted against the measure, arguing the council had not done its job to reduce spending elsewhere before putting taxes on the ballot.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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The goal is to engage kids in learning about history and civic engagement while putting them on a path to potentially work in the music industry, said the department’s Chief Academic Officer Irene Parisi.—
Theo Peck-Suzuki,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreaking. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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