1
: something cast up on the land by the sea especially after a shipwreck
2
a
b
: the action of wrecking or fact or state of being wrecked : destruction
c
: a violent and destructive crash
was injured in a car wreck
3
a
: a hulk or the ruins of a wrecked ship
b
: the broken remains of something wrecked or otherwise ruined
c
: something disabled or in a state of ruin or dilapidation
the house was a wreck
also
: a person or animal of broken constitution, health, or spirits
he's a nervous wreck
wrecked; wrecking; wrecks
1
: to cast ashore
2
a
: to reduce to a ruinous state by or as if by violence
a country wrecked by war
ambition wrecked his marriage
b
c
: to ruin, damage, or imperil by a wreck
wrecked the car
3
: bring about, wreak
wreck havoc
Examples of wreck in a Sentence
Noun
This car has never been in a wreck.
The stress of her final exams made her a wreck.
Dad was a nervous wreck on the day I had my surgery.
Verb
I wrecked my mother's car.
Many houses were wrecked by the hurricane.
The affair wrecked his marriage.
Bad weather wrecked our vacation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
The road backs up for a mile certain times of the day and wrecks are frequent, including a fatal one.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2025
Apress, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
When the blowback from this problem child’s dodgy associations threatens to wreck her life, the everymatriarch steps in.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for wreck
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Noun
Six people died in the wreck, including the ship's captain and two of his sons.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025
The road backs up for a mile certain times of the day and wrecks are frequent, including a fatal one.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2025
Verb
DeChambeau became the first defending champion to miss the cut at the national championship since Gary Woodland in 2020 — his round wrecked by errant drives, knucklers out of the rough and putts that would not drop.
—Apress, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 June 2025
When the blowback from this problem child’s dodgy associations threatens to wreck her life, the everymatriarch steps in.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for wreck
Cite this Entry
“Wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wreck. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wreck
1 of 2 noun1
: goods cast upon the land by the sea after a shipwreck
3
: the action of wrecking
4
: a destructive crash
was injured in a car wreck
5
: the broken remains of something wrecked or ruined
6
: something in a state of ruin or decay
the old house was a wreck
7
: a person in poor health or spirits
wreck
2 of 2 verb1
a
: to reduce to a state of ruin by or as if by violence
a country wrecked by war
jealousy wrecked their friendship
2
: to damage or ruin by a wreck
wrecked the car
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