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
Synonyms
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
Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2025
Driving on the rim of wheel According to court documents, Independence police responded to the fatal wreck at about 12:25 a.m. Tuesday along westbound I-70, west of Noland Road.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2025
Julia Ries, Outside Online, 29 Jan. 2025
The first step is to open your eyes to the big, disruptive forces at play that could wreck your business.
—Dev Patnaik, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for wreck 
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Noun
All lanes of eastbound Loop 820 at Beach Street were closed to traffic on Thursday morning as authorities investigated a wreck.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2025
Driving on the rim of wheel According to court documents, Independence police responded to the fatal wreck at about 12:25 a.m. Tuesday along westbound I-70, west of Noland Road.
—Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2025
Verb
Probiotics and fiber can cause uncomfortable symptoms, like diarrhea and bloating, that can wreck performance.
—Julia Ries, Outside Online, 29 Jan. 2025
The first step is to open your eyes to the big, disruptive forces at play that could wreck your business.
—Dev Patnaik, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for wreck
Dictionary Entries Near wreck
Cite this Entry
“Wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wreck. Accessed 9 Feb. 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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