1
as in devastation
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
the wreckage of those ancient statues represents a great loss to the art world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rubble
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed
the wreckage of the cathedral was kept as a memorial and as a reminder of war's terrible cost
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 wreckage
Iranian officials told civilians to be on the lookout for survivors and have flooded social media with images that purport to show wreckage from the aircraft.
—
Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
The vehicle smashed through barricades and concrete, racing down a hallway before becoming lodged in the twisted wreckage.
—Gayle Pearlstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 Apr. 2026
The other three became trapped in the wreckage and drowned, according to the office.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Aerial footage of the aftermath showed wreckage scattered across the roof, including the plane’s right wing still lodged in the roof, while the fuselage sat crumpled in the backyard.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreckage
Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
The vehicle smashed through barricades and concrete, racing down a hallway before becoming lodged in the twisted wreckage.
—Gayle Pearlstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 Apr. 2026
The other three became trapped in the wreckage and drowned, according to the office.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Aerial footage of the aftermath showed wreckage scattered across the roof, including the plane’s right wing still lodged in the roof, while the fuselage sat crumpled in the backyard.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreckage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreckage
Noun
-
But through this devastation came a discovery.—
John Lauritsen,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
But if the technology went rogue, or fell into the wrong hands, the devastation could be total.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The structure is being brought down so first responders can safely go in and recover the two workers who are trapped under the rubble.—
Ryan Hughes,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The remains of one of his two daughters were still missing, believed to be trapped under rubble, as search operations concluded Saturday, three days after the attacks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At least, there was a lot less wrecking.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The Ravens haven’t really had that game-wrecking pass rusher since Terrell Suggs was in his prime.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The fighting has carved a path of destruction from agricultural towns near the border to Beirut, killing more than 2,000 people and displacing in excess of 1 million others, according to Lebanese authorities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Washington wanted to test if the Iranian command, after seeing the destruction from six weeks of war and the killing of its Supreme Leader, would now bend to its will, experts said.—
Saeed Shah,
Time,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The wind and the cars that drive over the pile scatter the debris into neighbors’ lots, commercial property parking areas, etc.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Rake the area free of any residual plant debris.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Investigators are still working to determine what caused the wreck.—
Madeline Montgomery,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Marine archaeologists have located the wreck of the Dannebroge, a Danish warship that exploded and sank during a battle with a British fleet in 1801, on the seabed of Copenhagen Harbor.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The aim is for Abdul to cause havoc in the United States, the West Bank and Iran.—
Oline H. Cogdill,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
-
In the twentieth century, the same storms that made headlines in New York wreaked quieter havoc across the river.—
Eric Klinenberg,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ethiopia is home to 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites — including churches, parks and ancient ruins.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Something of an oxymoron for a city whose reputation is built on ruins.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wreckage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreckage. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
