1
: something cast up on the land by the sea especially after a shipwreck
2
a
b
: the action of wrecking or fact or state of being wrecked : destruction
c
: a violent and destructive crash
was injured in a car wreck
3
a
: a hulk or the ruins of a wrecked ship
b
: the broken remains of something wrecked or otherwise ruined
c
: something disabled or in a state of ruin or dilapidation
the house was a wreck
also
: a person or animal of broken constitution, health, or spirits
he's a nervous wreck
wrecked; wrecking; wrecks
1
: to cast ashore
2
a
: to reduce to a ruinous state by or as if by violence
a country wrecked by war
ambition wrecked his marriage
b
c
: to ruin, damage, or imperil by a wreck
wrecked the car
3
: bring about, wreak
wreck havoc
Synonyms
Examples of wreck in a Sentence
Noun
This car has never been in a wreck.
The stress of her final exams made her a wreck.
Dad was a nervous wreck on the day I had my surgery.
Verb
I wrecked my mother's car.
Many houses were wrecked by the hurricane.
The affair wrecked his marriage.
Bad weather wrecked our vacation.
Recent Examples on the Web
City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2024
The Bahamas’ motley mob included experts in fishing wrecks sunk along the Florida coast, locals who rushed to salvage Spanish, British, Dutch and French valuables lost to hurricanes and storms.
—Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
For a more active Greek isles experience, retreat to Karpathos to hike or windsurf, or scuba dive amid the World War II wrecks on Leros.
—Eleni N. Gage, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024
One key detail that helped researchers confirm the wreck’s identity was the damage caused by the Hickox.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
Agriculture is Ukraine’s most important industry, and the country’s economy is a wreck but Kyiv has little ability to complain.
—Siobhán O'Grady, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
Two 19-year-old women serving in the South Carolina Army National Guard died after being involved in a horrific wreck earlier this month.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Another driver in a wreck across the interstate wasn't as fortunate.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024
The town is a wreck, and the only living beings that come out to greet the liberating column are some dogs.
—Robert Zubrin, National Review, 7 Apr. 2024
Conor Knighton, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2024
Byron’s victory in the fall was far from dominant, but the No. 24 got into Victory Lane for the sixth time after Kyle Larson wrecked late from the lead and a dominant Bubba Wallace lost some speed on the final laps.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2024
Inmates Willie Crayton, Jake Jones, Bruce Clements, Thomas Bass, Heath Garrett, Shawn Wasden, and Richard Jackson were returning to the facility in Tallapoosa County after work when the van wrecked.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Even the engine and control rooms, the heart of the plant, were wrecked in the attacks.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
If only a few seconds of exposure can cause permanent damage, a whole bunch of people would have wrecked their retinas today, and also during previous eclipses.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024
When Jen dumps Andy, who is smitten with her, he is positively wrecked.
—Haley Strack, National Review, 5 Apr. 2024
With the violence blocking aid delivery and wrecking an already fragile health system, the United Nations chief child advocate has issued an ominous warning.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
The newly unearthed inconsistencies in a second royal picture puts Kate at the center of yet more questions, and threatens to wreck the royals’ relationships with leading news and photography agencies.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
Noun
The driver of the Ford and a passenger in his vehicle suffered no injuries in the wreck, Grieshaber said.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Apr. 2024
The Bahamas’ motley mob included experts in fishing wrecks sunk along the Florida coast, locals who rushed to salvage Spanish, British, Dutch and French valuables lost to hurricanes and storms.
—Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
For a more active Greek isles experience, retreat to Karpathos to hike or windsurf, or scuba dive amid the World War II wrecks on Leros.
—Eleni N. Gage, Travel + Leisure, 1 Apr. 2024
One key detail that helped researchers confirm the wreck’s identity was the damage caused by the Hickox.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN, 31 Mar. 2024
Agriculture is Ukraine’s most important industry, and the country’s economy is a wreck but Kyiv has little ability to complain.
—Siobhán O'Grady, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2024
Two 19-year-old women serving in the South Carolina Army National Guard died after being involved in a horrific wreck earlier this month.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Another driver in a wreck across the interstate wasn't as fortunate.
—Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024
The town is a wreck, and the only living beings that come out to greet the liberating column are some dogs.
—Robert Zubrin, National Review, 7 Apr. 2024
Verb
For the animals who live to the north and south of the interstate, this road has absolutely wrecked their commute.
—Conor Knighton, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2024
Byron’s victory in the fall was far from dominant, but the No. 24 got into Victory Lane for the sixth time after Kyle Larson wrecked late from the lead and a dominant Bubba Wallace lost some speed on the final laps.
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2024
Inmates Willie Crayton, Jake Jones, Bruce Clements, Thomas Bass, Heath Garrett, Shawn Wasden, and Richard Jackson were returning to the facility in Tallapoosa County after work when the van wrecked.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Even the engine and control rooms, the heart of the plant, were wrecked in the attacks.
—Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
If only a few seconds of exposure can cause permanent damage, a whole bunch of people would have wrecked their retinas today, and also during previous eclipses.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024
When Jen dumps Andy, who is smitten with her, he is positively wrecked.
—Haley Strack, National Review, 5 Apr. 2024
With the violence blocking aid delivery and wrecking an already fragile health system, the United Nations chief child advocate has issued an ominous warning.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024
The newly unearthed inconsistencies in a second royal picture puts Kate at the center of yet more questions, and threatens to wreck the royals’ relationships with leading news and photography agencies.
—Rob Picheta, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wreck.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near wreck
Cite this Entry
“Wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wreck. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wreck
1 of 2 noun1
: goods cast upon the land by the sea after a shipwreck
3
: the action of wrecking
4
: a destructive crash
was injured in a car wreck
5
: the broken remains of something wrecked or ruined
6
: something in a state of ruin or decay
the old house was a wreck
7
: a person in poor health or spirits
wreck
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to reduce to a state of ruin by or as if by violence
a country wrecked by war
jealousy wrecked their friendship
2
: to damage or ruin by a wreck
wrecked the car
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