wrecks 1 of 2

plural of wreck
as in collisions
the violent coming together of two bodies into destructive contact a dangerous stretch of roadway that has been the scene of numerous car wrecks

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wrecks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of wreck
1
as in shipwrecks
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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2
as in ruins
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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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 wrecks
Noun
Huron Aviation, Alpena, Michigan (Lake Huron) Get a unique perspective on the wrecks in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary by seeing them from the air. Stacy Conde, Midwest Living, 10 Aug. 2026 Car wrecks in which people are injured are frequent and many are not criminal matters, defense attorney Gill said in his closing argument in the guilt-innocence trial phase. Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Aug. 2026 The dramatic reappearance of the rusting wrecks has become one of the most striking visual reminders of both Europe’s wartime history and the severe drought currently gripping much of the continent. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026 At least 20 World War II wrecks of various sizes are now visible to the naked eye from the banks of Prahovo. CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026 There are shallow but rich dives; full-of-life, accessible wrecks; and thriving reefs, including my favorite spot, the unlikely cement plant, with seahorses and octopus reclining beneath its pier pilings—pilings that are fantastical once underwater. Jonnie Bayfield, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026 Historians estimate that as many as 1,000 ships sank during the Middle Passage, but fewer than 20 of these wrecks have been documented. Amara Evering, Miami Herald, 11 July 2026 Back inside the courtroom, CBS New York reported that prosecutors alleged Bithorn had previously put her children in danger via her alleged alcoholism, including multiple car wrecks. Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Verb
That’s because even ordinary winds – and far worse, storms and earthquakes – cause tall buildings to sway, which ruins people’s concentration, wrecks their mood, and even exhausts them. New Atlas, 24 July 2026 As is the case with the Delta Aquarids, the moon, only one day past full, unfortunately, wrecks any chances of getting any decent views this year. Joe Rao, Space.com, 18 July 2026 Those findings may sound like proof the job wrecks your hormones. Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 16 July 2026 Kyle Busch wrecks Ron Hornaday under caution! Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 21 May 2026 The change launches biannual arguments about the practice, wrecks havoc on sleep and has inspired voters to go to California polls. Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 7 Mar. 2026 In a film like this, you’re ostensibly meant to root against the terror that the central characters wrecks on his victims. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 16 Jan. 2026 This process wrecks kidney and heart tissue, causing the heart to enlarge and blood vessels to become stiffer, impeding circulation and setting the stage for clots. Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025 The larger dragon has two car launchers and a fire-breathing effect that wrecks passing cars. Clint Davis, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrecks
Noun
  • Turning collisions into a test The researchers did not simply look inside a proton.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026
  • This raises the risk of accidents or collisions and can void their insurance.
    Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, young boys gradually become feral and sadistic when trapped on an island together, and in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Prospero magically shipwrecks his brother and his allies so that they will all be exiled together under his watch.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • Nothing ruins a relationship faster than finding out your girlfriend, who’s actually the entire world, stole your frozen eggs.
    Reshma Gopaldas, IndieWire, 10 Aug. 2026
  • When porch days turn into nights, nothing ruins the vibe of an evening gathering or solo wind-down faster than a blinding flashlight or hunting for an outlet.
    Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • To keep everyone safe, designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux built a system of tunnels, arches and bridges that let the paths cross without crashes.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • So far this year, there have been 37 crashes at the roundabout — three times more than there were in 2021.
    Rose Evans August 16, Idaho Statesman, 16 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The agreement follows years of uncertainty over the papers' future and scuttles a rival bid by the owner of the Daily Mail to buy the Telegraph titles.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
  • This scuttles a compromise, whereby paintings of Lee in his prewar blue Army uniform could remain while the portrait of Lee the secessionist and enslaver came down.
    Time, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • T cells, a type of immune cell that detects and destroys infected or abnormal cells, normally perform this inspection.
    William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The white dwarf emits radiation and produces a giant gas bubble—the lion’s face—that destroys dust in its path.
    Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • With rising numbers of accidents and injuries, school board members say student safety is their top concern.
    Michele Gile, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The work is risky because miners typically do not have enough protection and the accidents are often deadly.
    ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The formula also prioritizes the actual hair strands with rosemary and biotinoyl tripeptide-1, which both help to strengthen strands to reduce breakage over time.
    Essence Wiley, InStyle, 13 June 2026
  • Detangling sprays can help those who need more assistance coaxing the hair strands apart, and detangling while the hair is wet may assist others in making the process gentle.
    William Jones, Ascend Agency, 28 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wrecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrecks. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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