wreak

verb

ˈrēk 

also

ˈrek 

wreaked; wreaking; wreaks

transitive verb

1

: bring about, cause

wreak havoc

2

a

: to cause the infliction of (vengeance or punishment)

b

archaic : avenge

3

: to give free play or course to (malevolent feeling)

Did you know?

In its early days, wreak was synonymous with avenge, a meaning exemplified when Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus proclaims "We will solicit heaven, and move the gods / To send down Justice for to wreak our wrongs." This sense is now archaic, but the association hasn't been lost: although wreak is today most often paired with havoc, it is also still sometimes paired with vengeance. We humbly suggest you avoid wreaking either, no matter how badly you may crave your just deserts.

Examples of wreak in a Sentence

Gangs have been wreaking mayhem in the city.

Recent Examples on the Web

The renowned killer known as the Baba Yaga returned to wreak more violent havoc for three more movies: 2017's John Wick: Chapter 2, 2019's John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum, and 2023's John Wick: Chapter 4. —Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 4 Nov. 2024

Byron Callan, aerospace and defense analyst with Capital Alpha Partners The U.S. got a taste of the damage that tariffs wreak after the Trump administration imposed a 25% tariff in 2018 on most steel imports and a 10% levy on aluminum. —Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

The Celts believed that the boundary between our world and the spirit world was thinnest on those days, and that residents of the netherworld could cross into this one to wreak some havoc. —Aaron Mahnke, People.com, 27 Oct. 2024

Highway shootings:Deadly violence on America's highways wreaks fear, havoc, and frustration SUNDAY, SEPT. 8 Search for I-75 shooting suspect resumes with federal, state assistance Early Sunday morning, officers assembled outside of the search area and began canvassing the dense forestry. —Eleanor McCrary, The Courier-Journal, 21 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wreken "to drive out, avenge, vent, express (anger, etc.)," going back to Old English wrecan "to press forward, drive out, banish, avenge, punish," going back to Germanic *wrekan- "to drive out, pursue" (whence Old Saxon wrekan "to avenge," Old High German rehhan, Old Norse reka "to drive, thrust, take vengeance," Gothic wrikan "to persecute"), of uncertain origin

Note: Placed by some under Indo-European *u̯reg- "follow a track" (whence, allegedly, Sanskrit vrajant- "wandering," Latin urgēre "to press, weigh down"), though the semantic relations between compared forms are not close.

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Phrases Containing wreak

• wreak havoc

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Kids Definition

wreak

verb

ˈrēk 

: to bring down in or as if in punishment

wreak revenge on the enemy

the storm wreaked destruction