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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 wrecking
Seth Emerson, New York Times, 8 Oct. 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
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Storm preparations Cuba has been struck almost yearly by a major hurricane in recent years, sometimes twice, wrecking the country’s already decrepit infrastructure, damaging crops and destroying thousands of homes in precarious condition.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
That history came to an end after wrecking crews tore down the wing’s two stories of offices and reception rooms last week.
—Darlene Superville, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
The big money takeover is wrecking college sports.
—FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Six games into his fourth NFL season, Thibodeaux has flashed the game-wrecking potential that led to the Giants grabbing him in the top five of the of the 2022 draft.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
One raid saw masked federal agents repelling from Black Hawk helicopters and wrecking an apartment building.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
The wrecking-ball style is the way King played even at Longview (Texas) High, where his father was the coach, and didn’t coddle or protect his son, as Dickey remembers.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Chastain regretted wrecking Hamlin.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
The coaches also decided King’s wrecking-ball approach was effective.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 8 Oct. 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
After those rules are broken, the gremlin spawns more of its kind and end up wrecking havoc on Billy’s hometown during Christmas.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Storm preparations Cuba has been struck almost yearly by a major hurricane in recent years, sometimes twice, wrecking the country’s already decrepit infrastructure, damaging crops and destroying thousands of homes in precarious condition.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025
That history came to an end after wrecking crews tore down the wing’s two stories of offices and reception rooms last week.
—Darlene Superville, Denver Post, 26 Oct. 2025
The big money takeover is wrecking college sports.
—FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Six games into his fourth NFL season, Thibodeaux has flashed the game-wrecking potential that led to the Giants grabbing him in the top five of the of the 2022 draft.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025
One raid saw masked federal agents repelling from Black Hawk helicopters and wrecking an apartment building.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
The wrecking-ball style is the way King played even at Longview (Texas) High, where his father was the coach, and didn’t coddle or protect his son, as Dickey remembers.
—Seth Emerson, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Chastain regretted wrecking Hamlin.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrecking
Noun
-
Marissa thought that the mom had died by suicide after the wreck.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Knarr also shared a story about a nurse who survived not only the wrecks of the Titanic but also its sister ships, Olympic and the Britannic.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Despite Coinbase scuttling its plans to acquire BVNK, stablecoin M&A has been a hot trend in crypto and fintech over the past year.—
Ben Weiss,
Fortune,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Hiding in dark places, scuttling in the daylight, allergic to real, authentic human contact.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
And candidates who stoked fear in voters — with the threat of towering multi-family complexes destroying their communities or costly local infrastructure projects driving up taxes — lost by clear margins.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Derek Lopez, 27, was fired from his role at the university after he was caught on camera destroying a Turning Point display.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Edmund Fitzgerald's sinking was quick.—
Stephen J. Beard,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Yet unlike the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, where many wealthy and influential passengers lost their lives, the Valbanera tragedy did not capture the public’s imagination and soon seemed to be forgotten.—
Raul A. Reyes,
NBC news,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
And eventually, his 2002 Dodge Dakota pickup truck broke down, stranding him in the wilderness.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, has made landfall in Jamaica, stranding tourists and residents.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Chiefs have seen some of league’s premier running backs — such as Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry and Jahmyr Gibbs — and have met each challenge, preventing those elite players from ruining the defensive game plan.—
Emily Curiel,
Kansas City Star,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Clark reiterated his belief that the Dodgers are not ruining baseball.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The military showed us a map of Hamas tunnel routes Israeli forces are still discovering and demolishing in the area.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Most recently, crews began demolishing the East Wing of the White House.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
When a world-shattering event turns most of the global population into a friendly hive mind, Carol sets out to protect her individuality.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
10 Nov. 2025
-
But this average-looking citizen could become almost anything, throwing himself into roles with shattering power.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wrecking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrecking. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share