as in collisions
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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as in ruins
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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Recent Examples of wrecks
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
But its reputation within GOP circles has taken a hit in recent years, driven in part by wealthy trial attorneys (yes, like the ones on billboards promising huge payouts after car wrecks) who are on the other side of those consumer lawsuits TLR has fought so hard to block.
—Bayliss Wagner, Houston Chronicle, 12 Feb. 2026
Confusing the pedals has been a recurring issue in wrecks.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 8 Feb. 2026
No deaths were reported in the wrecks, but six deaths inside the five boroughs were blamed on the ice-cold weather that arrived shortly before the snow.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Highway motorcycle wrecks flow into a federal database, but deaths on off-road dirt bikes don’t.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
That’s the reasoning behind the steep price-tag on this bombproof crate from Gunner, which the company designed to withstand even the nastiest of wrecks.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 26 Nov. 2025
But Schuster said Beijing has an edge on getting to wrecks in the South China Sea just based on proximity.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
Knarr also shared a story about a nurse who survived not only the wrecks of the Titanic but also its sister ships, Olympic and the Britannic.
—Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2025
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 16 Jan. 2026
This process wrecks kidney and heart tissue, causing the heart to enlarge and blood vessels to become stiffer, impeding circulation and setting the stage for clots.
—Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
The larger dragon has two car launchers and a fire-breathing effect that wrecks passing cars.
—Clint Davis, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
That sport is so incredible and wrecks your body.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Messy data wrecks forecasts, distorts reporting and wastes time.
—Thasha Batts, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
Daytona International Speedway saw two Duel races replete with wrecks, passes and drama on Thursday night.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
But its reputation within GOP circles has taken a hit in recent years, driven in part by wealthy trial attorneys (yes, like the ones on billboards promising huge payouts after car wrecks) who are on the other side of those consumer lawsuits TLR has fought so hard to block.
—Bayliss Wagner, Houston Chronicle, 12 Feb. 2026
Confusing the pedals has been a recurring issue in wrecks.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 8 Feb. 2026
No deaths were reported in the wrecks, but six deaths inside the five boroughs were blamed on the ice-cold weather that arrived shortly before the snow.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Highway motorcycle wrecks flow into a federal database, but deaths on off-road dirt bikes don’t.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
That’s the reasoning behind the steep price-tag on this bombproof crate from Gunner, which the company designed to withstand even the nastiest of wrecks.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 26 Nov. 2025
But Schuster said Beijing has an edge on getting to wrecks in the South China Sea just based on proximity.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
Knarr also shared a story about a nurse who survived not only the wrecks of the Titanic but also its sister ships, Olympic and the Britannic.
—Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
In a film like this, you’re ostensibly meant to root against the terror that the central characters wrecks on his victims.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 16 Jan. 2026
This process wrecks kidney and heart tissue, causing the heart to enlarge and blood vessels to become stiffer, impeding circulation and setting the stage for clots.
—Jyoti Madhusoodanan, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
The larger dragon has two car launchers and a fire-breathing effect that wrecks passing cars.
—Clint Davis, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
That sport is so incredible and wrecks your body.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Messy data wrecks forecasts, distorts reporting and wastes time.
—Thasha Batts, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrecks
Noun
-
The giant animals are protected by a vessel speed rule that requires large ships to slow down at certain times to avoid collisions, which is a leading cause of death for the whales.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for the state’s wolves.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Two married sea-explorers are stranded, Gilligan-style, after a storm shipwrecks their craft.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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When fans see an exciting big hit, thinking about how the players might not know their own family members in 30 years ruins the fun.—
Eleanor M. Perfetto,
STAT,
7 Feb. 2026
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The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins centers around a former NFL star (Morgan) who attempts to put his life back together after a gambling scandal ruins him.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The reason Georgia’s latest winter bash looked nothing like 2014’s Snowmageddon is because most people left elbow room for crews to treat the roads and did not weigh down first responders with dozens of crashes.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Beneath those skin-tight speed suits, racers wear vests that automatically inflate almost instantly during high-speed crashes to protect the neck, back and chest.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Besides the occasional random spider that scuttles indoors, some spiders can live in out-of-the-way spots in your home, such as along ceilings or in basements and behind clutter.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
11 Oct. 2025
-
This scuttles a compromise, whereby paintings of Lee in his prewar blue Army uniform could remain while the portrait of Lee the secessionist and enslaver came down.—
Time,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And God does and kills everybody and destroys everything.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
-
His stance joins a bipartisan chorus, including GOP leaders and Governor Shapiro, warning that inciting violence against Jewish neighbors destroys the path toward peace.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
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One spot denounced personal injury attorneys who promise justice for victims of accidents and assaults but take big chunks of settlements and judgments.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Gore said railroad accidents are investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and redacted police reports wouldn’t impede the investigation.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Focusing strictly on survival, the History series strands 10 individuals by themselves in the wilderness, testing their primal instincts and adaptability.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Feb. 2026
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However, when a shipwreck strands the two of them on a deserted island, Annie discovers Chopper is a fraud and knows nothing about survival, leaving her in charge of keeping them alive.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
9 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wrecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrecks. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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