wrecks 1 of 2

Definition of wrecksnext
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
McNeal’s unit handles patients who are coming out of surgery or have trauma from car wrecks or falls. Laura Berrios, AJC.com, 7 May 2026 Tesla is recalling over 218,000 vehicles because when drivers reverse, the rearview camera image may lag, potentially causing wrecks and injuries, according to a notice posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Saleen Martin, USA Today, 6 May 2026 Look, these wrecks are a dime-a-dozen at places like Talladega and Daytona. Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026 The researchers also identified wrecks from as recent as the beginning of World War II, documenting the remains of a Maiale, or Pig — a kind of submarine used by the Italian navy to attack the British fleet in the Strait of Gibraltar during World War II, according to Andreo. Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026 Winkler had studied thousands of wrecks. Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026 But upon entering, students are fighting with each other, learning how to get into wrecks, and generally falling on the ground a lot. Matias Ocner, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026 The crash was just the latest in a series of incidents involving auto wrecks and drugs for the golfer. Dan Mangan, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026 While traditionally believed not to be a problem (unless visiting wrecks or ammo dumps), awareness is now growing that the sunken munitions could pose a serious environmental risk. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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 That sport is so incredible and wrecks your body. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025 Messy data wrecks forecasts, distorts reporting and wastes time. Thasha Batts, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrecks
Noun
  • Similar giant elliptical basins exist on Mars and even Pluto, meaning the new modeling approach could help scientists reinterpret collisions across the solar system.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 9 May 2026
  • The teen’s death is the latest in a spate of serious collisions involving electric motorcycles and dirt bikes — some of which have led to serious injuries, death or charges for parents who allegedly allowed their minors to illegally ride the speedy devices.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • Two married sea-explorers are stranded, Gilligan-style, after a storm shipwrecks their craft.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • But the beetles don't come back after the evil WESAYSO corporation ruins their habitat.
    Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
  • On Bolivia’s Isla del Sol, simple guesthouses and boutique hotels overlook Incan ruins and the seemingly endless blue water.
    Carla Vianna, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The constant surveillance added its own form of stress, however—without actually reducing crashes.
    Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 3 May 2026
  • In addition to cleaning up the Colorado National Speedway faster after crashes this season, the new owners are trying to get an average of 5,000 hungry and thirsty fans back in their seats faster.
    Denver Post, Denver Post, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • Besides the occasional random spider that scuttles indoors, some spiders can live in out-of-the-way spots in your home, such as along ceilings or in basements and behind clutter.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • After hundreds to thousands of years, the feeding black hole or neutron star falls into the stellar core and destroys it, creating a luminous emission.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 May 2026
  • Federal debt destroys wealth and impedes economic growth.
    Rose Evans May 6, Idaho Statesman, 6 May 2026
Noun
  • Legal experts warn the measure could have far-reaching consequences for the state’s civil court system, hitting not just attorney pocketbooks but denting courtroom access for people who are injured in accidents and don’t have the money to pay a lawyer up front.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 8 May 2026
  • The vessels will also gather weather and environmental data that could support emergency response planning during storms or maritime accidents.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • Whale biologists generally hold that a whale that repeatedly strands itself usually has severe underlying health issues; even towing it back out to deeper waters may not keep it from starving or drowning.
    Jessica Camille Aguirre, New Yorker, 2 May 2026
  • Heart of the Beast centers on a former Army Special Forces soldier (Pitt), who fights for survival with his combat dog after a plane crash strands them in the Alaskan wilderness.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wrecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrecks. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

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