wreck 1 of 2

1
as in wreckage
the portion or bits of something left over or behind after it has been destroyed found the wreck of the ship lying on the floor of the ocean

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2
as in wrecking
the destruction or loss of a ship the wreck cost the insurance company millions of dollars

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3
as in collision
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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wreck

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to shipwreck
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 to ruin
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 wreck
Noun
Go snorkeling over a shallow wreck covered in pristine coral. Curaçao Tourist Board, AFAR Media, 26 Feb. 2025 Though these survivors testified that the submarine had gone down, too, some experts remained skeptical, as its wreck was never found. Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
Go deeper: Musk's wrecking ball pierces government's inner sanctum Editor's note: This story was updated with additional developments. Avery Lotz, Axios, 5 Feb. 2025 There's little doubt about next week being a 'climate emergency' with extreme cold—perhaps historical—wrecking the central United States. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wreck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreck
Noun
  • The event also brought attendees back to its storied spot along the West Coast (coincidentally, the location is changing next year) — just a few miles south of the wreckage left by last month’s devastating wildfires in the Pacific Palisades.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Modern international law emerged from the wreckage of world wars.
    Gyunduz Mamedov, TIME, 24 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Sheriff’s deputies are searching for a vehicle involved in a hit-and-run collision that seriously injured a motorcyclist Saturday night.
    Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The researchers estimate the space rock responsible for the crater was traveling at 36,000 kilometers per hour, with the collision scattering debris across the planet.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The movie, the story of a robot shipwrecked on an island only inhabited by animals, includes a shot of San Francisco Bay and depicts the Golden Gate Bridge as submerged due to sea level rise.
    Zack Budryk, The Hill, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Lord of the Flies – A new BBC adaptation of William Golding’s book about a group of boys shipwrecked on a deserted island.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Sometimes, one bad person or a few bad people can ruin things for everybody.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
  • The floods were also a disaster for businesses that lost valuable stock, like a local bookstore which saw $25,000 worth of books ruined, the BBC reported.
    Simon Perry, People.com, 26 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Even if the garage door is open, don't start a vehicle if the garage is attached to a home. Furnace and fireplaces: Keep fireplaces clean and in good condition, make sure no debris is blocking the vents or chimney.
    Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Residents who live near local landfills say the wildfire debris should be sent to hazardous waste landfills instead.
    Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Serious injuries were sustained and at least one person was transported to the hospital following a car versus pedestrian crash on Route 8 Southbound on Sunday morning, according to Connecticut State Police.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Car safety is one glaring example that Perez uncovered: During a car crash women are 47% more likely to be seriously injured than men and 17% more likely to die, even when researchers control for factors such as height, weight, seat-belt usage, and crash intensity.
    Esther K. Choy, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Ultimately, a weak Bay Area office market in recent years prompted the developers to scuttle their plans and instead sell the site to Super Micro Computer.
    George Avalos, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025
  • That leaves right open for Beck, who debuted last season but saw success scuttled by a fractured hand in his 23rd big-league game.
    Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • This is a major U-turn from Riot, after completely revamping the rewards system at the start of the year and being destroyed by fans for it.
    Mike Stubbs, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Lost in a sea of ash: When wildfire destroys a home — and a loved one’s urn — the search begins.
    Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreck. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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