as in inflicted
to cause to suffer punishment or vengeance for
wreaked their vengeance on those they considered enemies
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Recent Examples of wreaked
The consequences of that sabotage added to the environmental devastation wreaked by the oil multinationals.
—
Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Even as fresh violence is wreaked on the country, there has yet to be a full accounting of the government’s brutal crackdown in January, during which thousands of people protesting the deteriorating economy were killed by security forces.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
Wild extremes of temperature, a heat dome, a potent bomb cyclone blizzard, epic rainfalls and violent tornadoes have wreaked weather havoc across the nation.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
As the complaining businesses are no doubt wringing their hands over the setback, shoppers are also bemoaning the havoc that tariffs have wreaked on their pocketbooks as the final week of holiday shopping ramps up.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 16 Dec. 2025
Most of the book is a provocative and fast-paced chronicle of the damage that liberalism has supposedly wreaked on countries’ economic, social, political, and psychological foundations.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
In 2024, the world breached that boundary and, as predicted by science, recorded unprecedented weather extremes across the planet that wreaked deadly and expensive havoc on human infrastructure, agriculture and ways of life.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 1 Dec. 2025
History is littered with examples of the havoc wreaked by politicians’ will to power.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
The 1935 storm wreaked massive devastation and wiped out the Florida Keys.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2025
Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
Even as fresh violence is wreaked on the country, there has yet to be a full accounting of the government’s brutal crackdown in January, during which thousands of people protesting the deteriorating economy were killed by security forces.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026
Wild extremes of temperature, a heat dome, a potent bomb cyclone blizzard, epic rainfalls and violent tornadoes have wreaked weather havoc across the nation.
—Doyle Rice, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
As the complaining businesses are no doubt wringing their hands over the setback, shoppers are also bemoaning the havoc that tariffs have wreaked on their pocketbooks as the final week of holiday shopping ramps up.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 16 Dec. 2025
Most of the book is a provocative and fast-paced chronicle of the damage that liberalism has supposedly wreaked on countries’ economic, social, political, and psychological foundations.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
In 2024, the world breached that boundary and, as predicted by science, recorded unprecedented weather extremes across the planet that wreaked deadly and expensive havoc on human infrastructure, agriculture and ways of life.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 1 Dec. 2025
History is littered with examples of the havoc wreaked by politicians’ will to power.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
The 1935 storm wreaked massive devastation and wiped out the Florida Keys.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreaked
Verb
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Moss rejected that position, finding that the order nevertheless inflicted concrete harm and violated constitutional protections.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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And if so, is this advantage proportionate to the harm inflicted on civilians and the environment?—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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During the Covid pandemic, they were confined to their ships for long periods, unable to take breaks on shore because of border restrictions that many countries imposed.—
Mithil Aggarwal,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2026
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Following the collision, the FAA restricted helicopter traffic around Reagan Washington National Airport and imposed restrictions at other airports.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wreaked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreaked. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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