wreck 1 of 2

noun

ˈrek How to pronounce wreck (audio)
Definition of wrecknext
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 scuttle
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
The unfortunate crew of the doomed vessel were likely sailing to the west when disaster struck, the researchers wrote in a study about the wreck that was published earlier this year. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2026 Many ballads were passed down through oral tradition and recount a dramatic event, such as a famous battle, the wreck of a ship, or the tragic death of a child or lover. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Oct. 2026
Verb
Researchers believe the ship may have been traveling from the Levantine coast, which runs from Turkey in the north to Egypt in the south, to Troy or Crete when it was wrecked. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026 The story centers on an influencer whose life is wrecked by an online pile-on. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wreck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreck
  1. wreckage
  2. wrecking
  3. collision
  4. scuttle
  5. ruin
  6. debris
  7. crash
  8. shipwreck
Noun
  • What remained was wreckage — twisted metal, pieces of the balloon — and the smell of something burned.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The wreckage of a McLaren 720S involved in a deadly crash that killed two people in Irvine spontaneously ignited and caught fire last week inside a secure facility, Irvine police said in a statement.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of wreckage
Noun
  • At least, there was a lot less wrecking.
    — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The Ravens haven’t really had that game-wrecking pass rusher since Terrell Suggs was in his prime.
    — The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Definition of wrecking
Noun
  • The collision comes months after Independence police tightened restrictions on high-speed pursuits after years of scrutiny over the department's driving practices.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • When a conjunction is probable, SSA/STC service providers alert the operators involved, who then decide whether to undertake a collision-avoidance maneuver.
    — David Zamora, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of collision
Verb
  • The second was about how the no-new-tax pledge scuttled the mission of reducing the budget deficit—a key goal of Darman’s.
    — Bob Woodward, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The transaction was scuttled two months later after OpenAI shut down Sora, which had drawn a host of legal complaints alleging copyright violation.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of scuttle
Verb
  • One accidental move could ruin the attempt, requiring a correction at best, and a possible restart at worst.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Others have used it to remove oily stains from their toddlers like crayon marks on carpet, and one reviewer says it’s saved many of their clothes from being ruined in a household with unavoidable messes from both kids and pets.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruin
Noun
  • Avon Street remains closed from Merriman to Niagara Street as crews clear the roadway of debris.
    — Elle Meyers, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • However, throwing it back over the fence could create another dispute, particularly if doing so amounts to dumping debris on your neighbor’s property.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of debris
Noun
  • That’s 35% of the value of the S&P 500 and the highest concentration in a handful of stocks since just before the crash of 1929.
    — Ming Lu, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The California Highway Patrol on Wednesday afternoon was investigating a fatal crash on County Road 102 in Yolo County.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of crash
Verb
  • Mom spots shipwreck hiding beneath lake after years of beach visits.
    — , FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In a passage from the Book of Acts, Paul is shipwrecked while sailing for Rome.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of shipwreck

Phrases Containing wreck

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wreaths
wreck
wreckage
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Cite this Entry

“Wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreck. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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