as in wreck
the destruction or loss of a ship
the wrecking of the freighter was one of the worst disasters ever on the Great Lakes
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in scuttling
to cause irreparable damage to (a ship) by running aground or sinking
many an unwary captain has wrecked his ship on the shoals that surround the island
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in destroying
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
most of the furniture on the ground floor was wrecked by the floodwaters
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Recent Examples of wrecking
The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
In one case, the life of an upper-class woman and contemporary of Julius Caesar, Clodia, saw her reputation destroyed by false claims of harlotry, home-wrecking, and husband-killing.
—Time, 24 Nov. 2025
The addresses listed in the wrecking permits border the east of the truck plant where Ford makes its iconic Super Duty trucks, Expedition SUVs and luxury Lincoln Navigators.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
Leaving a dog at home alone can be nerve-wrecking for many owners, but pet-cam footage shows why Larry the greyhound's owner has nothing to worry about.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
The wrecking begins when Carey (Marvin), Paul’s best friend, ill-advisedly sleeps with Julie—and then, more ill-advisedly still, confesses it to Paul the next day.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
At other locations in the valley, hospices operated inside strip malls alongside burrito stands, nail salons, dance studios, tax preparers and even an auto parts store and wrecking yard.
—William La Jeunesse, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The Italians fought and lost to Robert Moses’s wrecking whims; Puerto Ricans who could fled to Jersey for the privilege of a backyard.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Crews used an aerial platform to help a wrecking tow truck hook its line to the vehicle, also avoiding placing a human diver in the frigid water.
—Jessie Christopher Smith, Oklahoman, 27 Jan. 2026
The Luddites are back, wrecking technology in a quixotic effort to stop progress.
—Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Givaudan initiated the process to receive a wrecking permit in August and has been working over the past few months to get the proper approval from various agencies, including Louisville MSD and the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District.
—Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Jan. 2026
Miami toppled reigning national champ Ohio State with game-wrecking defense — five sacks and seven tackles for loss.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
And can interest be reduced without wrecking your financial future?
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
In one case, the life of an upper-class woman and contemporary of Julius Caesar, Clodia, saw her reputation destroyed by false claims of harlotry, home-wrecking, and husband-killing.
—Time, 24 Nov. 2025
The addresses listed in the wrecking permits border the east of the truck plant where Ford makes its iconic Super Duty trucks, Expedition SUVs and luxury Lincoln Navigators.
—Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
Leaving a dog at home alone can be nerve-wrecking for many owners, but pet-cam footage shows why Larry the greyhound's owner has nothing to worry about.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
The wrecking begins when Carey (Marvin), Paul’s best friend, ill-advisedly sleeps with Julie—and then, more ill-advisedly still, confesses it to Paul the next day.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
Dosunmu operated at times like a one-man wrecking crew, forcing his way downhill in the half court and cracking open the Heat’s confounded defense in the flow of transition.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
At other locations in the valley, hospices operated inside strip malls alongside burrito stands, nail salons, dance studios, tax preparers and even an auto parts store and wrecking yard.
—William La Jeunesse, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
The Italians fought and lost to Robert Moses’s wrecking whims; Puerto Ricans who could fled to Jersey for the privilege of a backyard.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Crews used an aerial platform to help a wrecking tow truck hook its line to the vehicle, also avoiding placing a human diver in the frigid water.
—Jessie Christopher Smith, Oklahoman, 27 Jan. 2026
The Luddites are back, wrecking technology in a quixotic effort to stop progress.
—Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Givaudan initiated the process to receive a wrecking permit in August and has been working over the past few months to get the proper approval from various agencies, including Louisville MSD and the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District.
—Killian Baarlaer, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Jan. 2026
Miami toppled reigning national champ Ohio State with game-wrecking defense — five sacks and seven tackles for loss.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
And can interest be reduced without wrecking your financial future?
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrecking
Noun
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Pilot Jacob Hosmer, attorney Tara Arnold and event planner Shawna Collins were killed in the wreck, according to Houston ABC affiliate KTRK.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The wreck comes as Winter Storm Fern covers the region sleet and ice, creating dangerous travel conditions across major roadways.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Artificial reefs, created by scuttling ships, sinking oil rigs, or dropping rubble into the sea, have long been known to improve aquatic life, so perhaps these findings are unsurprising.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
19 Dec. 2025
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Pro tip Tack on a night at the Balmoral prior to the trip to avoid any travel snafus scuttling your voyage, and perhaps a few more on the back end to allow proper time to reacclimate.—
Jake Emen,
Robb Report,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Modesto Fire Department Firefighters quickly contained and extinguished the fire, preventing it from destroying the home, officials said.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
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By the way, the last scene of The Conversation has the paranoid Gene Hackman destroying his apartment in a desperate and futile search for listening devices.—
Rose Horowitch,
The Atlantic,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The cause of the ferry sinking was not immediately clear and there will be an investigation, Dua said.—
Jim Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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In some simulations, the sinking began after 1 to 3 million years and reached the base of the shell after 5 to 10 million years.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After Bradley begrudgingly invites Linda to join him on a work trip, his private jet crashes in the Gulf of Thailand, stranding the pair on a remote beach, Linda’s devotion to Survivor suddenly gets put to good use.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
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At its busiest last year, Deming said the center was rescuing seven to nine animals a day in addition to dolphins that were stranding on beaches.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In fact, for some items, a standard cold wash can be ruining.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
30 Jan. 2026
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The Dodgers’ $240-million signing of Kyle Tucker revived anguished cries that the team is ruining baseball.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Crews are demolishing Westport infrastructure to construct an underground storage basin to hold water that previously would have flooded Westport buildings.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
26 Jan. 2026
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On Thursday morning, crews were nearly finished demolishing the adjacent structures, one of which was damaged by a fire in March 2024.—
Thomas Gounley,
Denver Post,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This set from the Good Grips collection is made of borosilicate glass, which is food-safe like standard glass, but also more resistant to heat—meaning it can be taken out of the freezer and popped straight into the microwave to reheat leftovers without shattering.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
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Both films feature an early phone call which is clearly shattering for their characters.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wrecking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrecking. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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