wreaked; wreaking; wreaks
1
: bring about, cause
wreak havoc
2
a
: to cause the infliction of (vengeance or punishment)
b
archaic
: avenge
3
: to give free play or course to (malevolent feeling)
Did you know?
In its early days, wreak was synonymous with avenge, a meaning exemplified when Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus proclaims “We will solicit heaven, and move the gods / To send down Justice for to wreak our wrongs.” This sense is now archaic, but the association hasn't been lost: although wreak is today most often paired with havoc, it is also still sometimes paired with words like vengeance and destruction. We humbly suggest you avoid wreaking any of that, however, no matter how badly you may crave your just deserts.
Examples of wreak in a Sentence
Gangs have been wreaking mayhem in the city.
Recent Examples on the Web
For a creature that’s only the girth of a fingernail, the damage that quagga mussels wreak is outsize.
—
Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
This time, though, there's only one enemy to deal with – but by Cybertron, this murder machine wreaks bloody havoc on Alan Ritchson's 81 (he's only known by this callsign in the movie) and his team of Army Rangers in training!
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Such a move underlines Iran’s reliance on asymmetric warfare and the havoc these tactics could wreak even as the country is battered by US-Israeli airstrikes.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
Playing as one of the two behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 3-4-2-1 Farke has settled on, Stach’s got the defensive steel to bulk up the engine room out of possession, but the guile and stamina to roam forward, wreaking chaos in attack.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreak
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Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 13 Mar. 2026
This time, though, there's only one enemy to deal with – but by Cybertron, this murder machine wreaks bloody havoc on Alan Ritchson's 81 (he's only known by this callsign in the movie) and his team of Army Rangers in training!
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 11 Mar. 2026
Such a move underlines Iran’s reliance on asymmetric warfare and the havoc these tactics could wreak even as the country is battered by US-Israeli airstrikes.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
Playing as one of the two behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 3-4-2-1 Farke has settled on, Stach’s got the defensive steel to bulk up the engine room out of possession, but the guile and stamina to roam forward, wreaking chaos in attack.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wreak
Cite this Entry
“Wreak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wreak. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wreak
verb
: to bring down in or as if in punishment
wreak revenge on the enemy
the storm wreaked destruction
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
