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
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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
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
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
On July 21, 1715, a hurricane struck — wrecking the ships and releasing their treasures into the sea, according to The Associated Press.
—Ashley J. Dimella , Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Adam Berry/Getty Images What To Know Phoenix police said in a release to media that a 19-year-old was detained after wrecking a memorial for Kirk at the office of Turning Point USA, the conservative campus group that Kirk co-founded.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Despite the mixed reception, the money counter was an earnest attempt to keep the show running on schedule, preventing one or two self-indulgent speakers from wrecking the running time.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
With Micah Parsons now gone, big shoes are available for any defender willing to bring a big game-wrecking attitude every time Matt Eberflus’ group steps between the lines.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
The sophomore, who is the youngest player ever voted captain under coach Jay Norvell, was a one-man wrecking crew against the Huskies with a game-high 13 tackles.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 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
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
On July 21, 1715, a hurricane struck — wrecking the ships and releasing their treasures into the sea, according to The Associated Press.
—Ashley J. Dimella , Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Adam Berry/Getty Images What To Know Phoenix police said in a release to media that a 19-year-old was detained after wrecking a memorial for Kirk at the office of Turning Point USA, the conservative campus group that Kirk co-founded.
—Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Despite the mixed reception, the money counter was an earnest attempt to keep the show running on schedule, preventing one or two self-indulgent speakers from wrecking the running time.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
With Micah Parsons now gone, big shoes are available for any defender willing to bring a big game-wrecking attitude every time Matt Eberflus’ group steps between the lines.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
The sophomore, who is the youngest player ever voted captain under coach Jay Norvell, was a one-man wrecking crew against the Huskies with a game-high 13 tackles.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrecking
Noun
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In addition to the exploding festival stage, there’s a drunken bachelorette wreck, plus a jaw-dropping boy-with-the-red-balloon moment involving a little girl and a kite.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
10 Oct. 2025
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The statement did not include any details on the wreck, or any potential injuries.—
Angele Latham,
Nashville Tennessean,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The squeals, heavy breathing, and tail thrashing of the headline attraction, the ominous pitter-patter of a chestburster scuttling across the floor, and the characteristic crunch of a chestburster smashing through an unfortunate ribcage are all integral to the extra-terrestrial horror.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
8 Oct. 2025
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At a moment when traditional publications are scuttling book reviews and the economic barriers to entry for emerging writers are harder and harder to overcome, these habits are more useful than ever.—
Rebecca Ackermann,
The Atlantic,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The county was also heavily affected by the 2021 floods that swept most of Middle Tennessee, with high waters washing away multiple roads and even destroying a church in the Pinewood community, according to previous Tennessean reporting.—
Kirsten Fiscus,
Nashville Tennessean,
10 Oct. 2025
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Just two years earlier, devastating floods swept through Middle Tennessee, damaging infrastructure and destroying a church in Pinewood.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The most common cause is underwater earthquakes that force the seafloor to move vertically, either rising or sinking, which displaces massive volumes of water.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The ship is so famous because its sinking was disastrous, but not tragic – Shackleton guided all 27 crew members to safety and was able to slowly remove cargo, supplies and boats before the vessel sank.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The disruption came just a day after flights were halted Thursday night following earlier drone reports, stranding thousands of passengers and diverting flights across the region.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
O’Hoppe and Christian Moore struck out in the first, stranding two runners.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Packages of flying tortillas thrown at the wrong time, or pocket knives, would only hurt a reputation that Texas Tech has worked doggedly to change and show that the Red Raiders are at home on a national stage, and not the crazy drunk uncle ruining a holiday.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Since 2021, Spotify has offered an alternative app for kids to listen to music without ruining their parents recommendations.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Barner holds his arms parallel to the ground and swings them side to side while slowly stomping forward like Godzilla demolishing a city.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Often, demolishing a former shopping mall can be easier for builders who might then decide to build luxury housing that does not address the current affordability crisis.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Two men left and fired into the restaurant from the outside, shattering windows and striking two teenagers.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
14 Oct. 2025
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The crash’s giddy prequel, dramatic unfolding, and shattering aftermath—the Great Depression—has long provided compelling material for writers.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wrecking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrecking. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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