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
Wolfson pointed to a recent TikTok video that captured Pontius standing by the roadside in the aftermath of a car wreck. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 Trans-Atlantic dispute over the artifacts RMS Titanic wants to auction some of the first artifacts salvaged from the wreck. — CBS News, 23 June 2026
Verb
The good news is that dermatologists and makeup artists have figured out how to keep your SPF topped up without wrecking your foundation, blush or setting spray. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026 Jane Ragsdale’s best friend Christine Chenoweth, a pastoral counselor and former Presbyterian minister, says the South Fork of the Guadalupe is now lousy and wrecked and haunted. — Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 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
  • Reaching the wreckage proved difficult as emergency workers, backed by paramilitary forces, climbed down a steep mountainside to the ravine up to 25 meters (80 feet) deep.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
  • According to the operator, the pilot used a small clipboard to record load notes and fuel calculations, but that clipboard was not found in the wreckage, investigators said.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 2 July 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
  • Leaving the scene of a property-damage collision can result in misdemeanor charges, fines and other penalties.
    — James Ward, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Under California’s vehicle code, hit-and-run collisions that lead to property damage but no injuries are classified as misdemeanors.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of collision
Verb
  • The idea is to allow for accidents, miscommunications or misunderstandings that the participants agree should not scuttle talks.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • The 6-foot-1 catcher is having a fine bounce-back season after a stress reaction in his back scuttled most of 2025.
    — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2026
Definition of scuttle
Verb
  • However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
  • After all, plenty of cocktail enthusiasts already complain about mosquitoes ruining a summer evening.
    — Emily Price, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of ruin
Noun
  • Rodríguez denied those claims, saying some remote areas were difficult to reach because roads were blocked by landslides and debris, forcing authorities to rely on motorcycles, drones and satellite imagery.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
  • Seconds later, a powerful explosion blasted through the doorway, shattering windows and sending vertical blinds and debris flying as firefighters quickly retreated from the building.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of debris
Noun
  • The military declared McKinney dead in March 1946, though no crash site had been identified, let alone any remains of the man from Providence, Rhode Island.
    — Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
  • The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said it was not notified of the crash, according to local reports.
    — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of crash
Verb
  • In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, young boys gradually become feral and sadistic when trapped on an island together, and in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Prospero magically shipwrecks his brother and his allies so that they will all be exiled together under his watch.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
  • Unique experiences include shipwreck scuba diving in the Straits of Mackinac and checking out the sights from the stunning Castle Rock viewpoint.
    — Katy Spratte Joyce, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wreck

Nglish: Translation of wreck for Spanish Speakers

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