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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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of wrecks
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
Transfers and car wrecks and injuries and Simeon Cottle — the best player on the team and maybe in Conference USA — being accused of point-shaving.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Wendy’s wandering eye wrecks rehearsals.
—Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2026
The wrecks sparked conversations in cities across the metro about how to approach traffic safety improvements overall, not just for e-bike users.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
Industrial wrecks such as the old Studebaker factory are in the process of becoming data centers and office parks.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
And the sense of reverence for the wrecks is palpable, especially in those who choose to explore these watery historical sites.
—Brian Higgins, Outside, 2 Mar. 2026
Neighbors worried the venue would mean more congestion and wrecks and lower property values.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
Gardea said there are high-speed wrecks on highways through Farmington, and a lot of tourists drive through on weekends to get to the mountains.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
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
Noun
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
Transfers and car wrecks and injuries and Simeon Cottle — the best player on the team and maybe in Conference USA — being accused of point-shaving.
—Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Wendy’s wandering eye wrecks rehearsals.
—Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2026
The wrecks sparked conversations in cities across the metro about how to approach traffic safety improvements overall, not just for e-bike users.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
Industrial wrecks such as the old Studebaker factory are in the process of becoming data centers and office parks.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
And the sense of reverence for the wrecks is palpable, especially in those who choose to explore these watery historical sites.
—Brian Higgins, Outside, 2 Mar. 2026
Neighbors worried the venue would mean more congestion and wrecks and lower property values.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2026
Gardea said there are high-speed wrecks on highways through Farmington, and a lot of tourists drive through on weekends to get to the mountains.
—Charlie Lapastora, CBS News, 25 Feb. 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
-
Traffic collisions totaled 1,404, a 25% increase from 2024 and 10 traffic fatalities, compared to six in 2024.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Alongside these head-on collisions, particles also produce a constant stream of near-miss events.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Two married sea-explorers are stranded, Gilligan-style, after a storm shipwrecks their craft.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
One drop of red dye ruins the whole thing.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
-
And as per usual, a man ruins everything.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
At least 16 people have died in helicopter crashes in Hawaii in the past seven years, including two crashes in 2019.—
JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
At least 16 people have died in helicopter crashes in Hawaii in the last seven years, including two crashes in 2019.—
Jennifer Sinco Kelleher,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 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
-
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,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The extreme heat kills the plant tissue immediately and typically destroys the roots of many weed species.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Intrigued, the Duke secretly seduces Gilda, breaks her heart and destroys Rigoletto’s life.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Elsewhere in northwestern Croatia, snowy conditions and winds have led to frequent traffic accidents, warned the country auto-club, or HAK, which monitors the road situation for drivers and provides aid if needed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Without the horn, crossings must rely on gates, signals and street design to prevent accidents.—
Noah Daly,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The film stars Ryan Gosling as a middle-school science teacher who ends up on a mission to save mankind that strands him in space by himself.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
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Crystal beads were then added on top of the pearl strands for an even more dazzling arrangement.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wrecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrecks. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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