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Definition of 'wreak'

Word Frequency

wreak

(riːk )

Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense wreaks , present participle wreaking , past tense, past participle wreaked language note: The form wrought can also be used as the past participle.

1. verb

Something or someone that wreaks havoc or destruction causes a great amount of disorder or damage.

[journalism, literary]

Violent storms wreaked havoc on the French Riviera, leaving three dead and dozens injured. [VERB noun]

Who knows if the volcano might once again wreak destruction? [VERB noun]

...the devastation wrought by a decade of fighting. [VERB-ed]

Synonyms: create, work, cause, visit More Synonyms of wreak

2. verb

If you wreak revenge or vengeance on someone, you do something that will harm them very much to punish them for the harm they have done to you.

[journalism, literary]

He threatened to wreak vengeance on the men who toppled him a year ago. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: unleash, express, indulge, vent More Synonyms of wreak

3. See also wrought

COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

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Word Frequency

wreak in British English

(riːk )

verb (transitive)

1.

to inflict (vengeance, etc) or to cause (chaos, etc)

to wreak havoc on the enemy

2.

to express, or gratify (anger, hatred, etc)

3. archaic

to take vengeance for

▶ USAGE See note at wrought

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Derived forms

wreaker (ˈwreaker)

noun

Word origin

Old English wrecan; related to Old Frisian wreka, Old High German rehhan (German rächen), Old Norse reka, Latin urgēre to push

Word Frequency

wreak in American English

(rik )

verb transitive

1.

to give vent or free play to (one's anger, malice, rage, etc.)

2.

to inflict (vengeance), cause (harm or havoc), etc.

3. Archaic

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

Derived forms

wreaker (ˈwreaker)

noun

Word origin

ME wreken < OE wrecan, to revenge, punish, akin to Ger rächen, Goth wrikan < IE base *wreg-, to shove, oppress, hunt down, L urgere, to press, urge

Examples of 'wreak' in a sentence
wreak

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…

This gave him licence to get forward and wreak havoc.The day is over when they can stay in our country and wreak havoc.It will spell war or wreak the havoc of one.But what to do when heels wreak havoc on your lower back?Though the tent's wreaking havoc with our lawn.World War Two wreaked havoc on our eating habits.They said that hooligans from the city took advantage of the chaos to wreak havoc.They say that modern mining methods could wreak lasting damage on the countryside.This enabled them to sustain and wind up their anger to wreak the worst vengeance.Who knows if the volcano might once again wreak destruction?

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wreak

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In other languages
wreak

British English: wreak VERB /riːk/

Something or someone that wreaks havoc or destruction causes a great amount of disorder or damage.

Violent storms wreaked havoc on the coast, leaving dozens injured.

American English: wreak /ˈrik/
Brazilian Portuguese: causar
Chinese: 造成混乱或严重破坏
European Spanish: causar
French: causer
German: anrichten
Italian: seminare rovina, distruzione
Japanese: もたらす大惨事や破壊を
Korean: 입히다피해 등을
European Portuguese: causar
Latin American Spanish: causar
Thai: ก่อให้เกิด (ความเสียหาย)

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Definition of wreak from the Collins English Dictionary

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Question: 1

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wail or whale?

Which version is correct?

The wail of bagpipes could be heard in the distance. The whale of bagpipes could be heard in the distance.

hair or hare?

Which version is correct?

Outside my window sat a huge brown hair. Outside my window sat a huge brown hare.

suite or sweet?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

suite

sweet

We moved into a new of offices.

whine or wine?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

whine

wine

The dog started to in the background.

creak or creek?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

creak

creek

The door was pulled open with a .

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Jun 26, 2021

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a mark on the earth's surface, usually circular , formed by a large ancient meteorite impact

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Scrabble score
for 'wreak':
12

Quick word challenge

Quiz Review

Question: 1

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Score: 0 / 5

pidgin or pigeon?

Which version is correct?

They could only speak pidgin English. They could only speak pigeon English.

coarse or course?

Which version is correct?

I'd love to take a coarse in French literature. I'd love to take a course in French literature.

desert or dessert?

Which version is correct?

The vehicles have been modified to suit conditions in the desert. The vehicles have been modified to suit conditions in the dessert.

hear or here?

Drag the correct answer into the box.

hear

here

I'd love to it played by a professional orchestra.

knead or need?

Which version is correct?

I knead to make a phone call. I need to make a phone call.

Your score:

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