wreckage

1 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 annihilation, decimation, demolishment, demolition, desolation, devastation, extermination, extinction, havoc, loss, mincemeat, obliteration, ruin, ruination, wastage, destructionRelated Words depredation, despoilment, despoliation; breakup, collapse, disintegration, dissolution; assassination, execution, killing, massacre, slaughter; dismantlement, effacement, eradicationNear Antonyms rescue, salvage, salvation, saving; conservation, preservation, protection; reclamation, reconstruction, re-creation, refurbishment, regeneracy, remodeling, renovation, restorationAntonyms building, construction, erection, raising

2 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 ashes, debris, detritus, flotsam, residue, rubble, ruins, wreck, remainsRelated Words jetsam, leavings, remnant; chaff, deadwood, dross, dust, garbage, junk, litter, refuse, riffraff, rubbish, scrap, trash, waste

3 the destruction or loss of a ship debris floated ashore for weeks after the wreckage Synonyms shipwrecking, wreck, shipwreck, wreckingRelated Words beaching, grounding, stranding; foundering, sinking; scuttlingNear Antonyms recovery, salvage, salvaging