wreaks

verb

present tense third-person singular of wreak
as in inflicts
to cause to suffer punishment or vengeance for wreaked their vengeance on those they considered enemies

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wreaks At that level, air density has dropped by close to 40 percent, which wreaks havoc on an internal combustion engine, which needs oxygen to operate efficiently. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 23 June 2026 Peeves, the troublemaking ghost who wreaks havoc on young wizards, will be roaming the halls of Hogwarts when the new adaptation kicks off on Christmas Day. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026 This week’s second-to-last episode sees the conditions around Widow’s Bay deteriorating, as the reignited Warren curse on the island wreaks havoc. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2026 Many people always say that after a weather event wreaks its way through a community, that's the exact time community is needed. — Jessica Riley, CBS News, 11 June 2026 Taz-Mania’s lush tropical district will be designed by the destructive Taz who wreaks havoc after escaping his cage. — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 3 June 2026 The party already faced historical challenges as the majority party going into the midterm elections, on top of economic headwinds that have become even stronger as the Iran war wreaks havoc on the global economy. — Julia Manchester, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2026 Items below the benchmark are sorted into a different area mainly for incineration or landfill, which is where textile pollution wreaks its most damage. — Tian MacLeod Ji, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026 This time, though, there's only one enemy to deal with – but by Cybertron, this murder machine wreaks bloody havoc on Alan Ritchson's 81 (he's only known by this callsign in the movie) and his team of Army Rangers in training! — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreaks
  1. inflicts
  2. puts
  3. imposes
Verb
  • In the end, the young cockroaches proved so resilient because Modi’s regime of control had no punishment or humiliation to threaten them with beyond what the system already inflicts on them every day.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The media usually get Black femicide wrong Another problem surrounding intimate partner homicide inflicts its harms after death.
    — Sativa Banks, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
Definition of inflicts
Verb
  • Another shoe will drop for SpaceX this week when close to a billion shares held by insiders can be sold for the first time on Thursday, which traditionally puts downward pressure on newly IPOed company stock prices.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Nick Mitchell is a slap-hitting outfielder who doesn’t chase or whiff much but has no power and puts the ball on the ground a lot.
    — Keith Law, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of puts
Verb
  • Failing to update one's self-concept imposes significant costs on organizations, as teams navigate a leader's blind spots.
    — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • The law imposes prison sentences of five to 10 years for compelling a person to present as transgender against their will.
    — Aakash Hassan, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026
Definition of imposes

Browse Nearby Words

wreaking
wreaks
wreath
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Cite this Entry

“Wreaks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreaks. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wreaks

Nglish: Translation of wreaks for Spanish Speakers

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