Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense wreaks, present participle wreaking, past tense, past participle wreakedlanguage 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 dozensinjured. [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
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
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
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
to avenge
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
This gave him licence to get forward and wreak havoc.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The day is over when they can stay in our country and wreak havoc.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It will spell war or wreak the havoc of one.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But what to do when heels wreak havoc on your lower back?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Though the tent's wreaking havoc with our lawn.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
World War Two wreaked havoc on our eating habits.
The Sun (2016)
They said that hooligans from the city took advantage of the chaos to wreak havoc.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They say that modern mining methods could wreak lasting damage on the countryside.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This enabled them to sustain and wind up their anger to wreak the worst vengeance.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Who knows if the volcano might once again wreak destruction?
Richard Fortey THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)
The visitors have been disrupted by floods that wreaked havoc in the town.
The Sun (2016)
These most beautiful people have not deserved the terrible destruction being wreaked on them.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The big freeze has wreaked more havoc around the country.
The Sun (2010)
The former depicts a singer aware of the damage wreaked upon his brand by his alter ego.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Profit warnings and project delays have wreaked havoc on the share price.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He warned that high wind speeds could wreak havoc.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The years have wreaked more damage.
The Sun (2011)
The consultancy is also alarmed by signs that the credit crunch is set to wreak further serious damage through a prolonged lending drought.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And they reckoned he may have been wreaking more havoc in Austria.
The Sun (2015)
The basic objective is to wreak damage, and those who claim otherwise jeopardise their credibility.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A wolf set to wreak vengeance on an ageless enemy.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
It has obvious advantages, not least that it is a way of wreaking political vengeance on bankers and financiers.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But ironically when the police did turn out during the London riots they were accused of standing by and letting people wreak havoc.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Buried alive, she returned to wreak vengeance on him..
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
If they 2005 got in again, the chaos they would wreak on the economy would ensure that it happened all over again.
The Sun (2015)
In other languages
wreak
British English: wreak VERB
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
Brazilian Portuguese: causar
Chinese: 造成 >混乱或严重破坏
European Spanish: causar
French: causer
German: anrichten
Italian: seminarerovina, distruzione
Japanese: >もたらす大惨事や破壊を
Korean: > 입히다피해 등을
European Portuguese: causar
Latin American Spanish: causar
1 (verb)
Violent storms wreaked havoc on the coast.
Synonyms
create
Criticism will only create feelings of failure.
work
Modern medicine can work miracles.
cause
I don't want to cause any trouble.
visit
effect
Prospects for effecting real political change have taken a step backward.
exercise
carry out
execute
We are going to execute our campaign plan to the letter.
inflict
The dog attacked her, inflicting serious injuries.
bring about
2 (verb)
He wreaked vengeance on the men who had betrayed him.
Synonyms
unleash
express
indulge
My success has let me indulge my love of expensive cars.
vent
She telephoned her best friend to vent her frustration.
gratify
Her work at the Treasury gratified her sense of self-importance.
give vent to
give free rein to
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cause
Definition
to be the cause of
I don't want to cause any trouble.
Synonyms
produce,
begin,
create,
effect,
lead to,
occasion (formal),
result in,
generate,
provoke,
compel,
motivate,
induce,
bring about,
give rise to,
precipitate,
incite,
engender
in the sense of effect
Definition
to cause (something) to take place
Prospects for effecting real political change have taken a step backward.
Synonyms
bring about,
make,
cause,
produce,
create,
complete,
achieve,
perform,
carry out,
fulfil,
accomplish,
execute,
initiate,
give rise to,
consummate,
actuate,
effectuate
in the sense of execute
Definition
to produce or create (a work of art)
We are going to execute our campaign plan to the letter.
Synonyms
carry out,
effect,
finish,
complete,
achieve,
realize,
do,
implement,
fulfil,
enforce,
accomplish,
render,
discharge,
administer,
prosecute,
enact,
consummate,
put into effect,
bring off
Nearby words of
wreak
wrapper
wrath
wrathful
wreak
wreath
wreathe
wreck
Synonyms of 'wreak'
wreak
Explore 'wreak' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of gratify
Definition
to yield to (a desire or whim)
Her work at the Treasury gratified her sense of self-importance.
Synonyms
satisfy,
feed,
fulfil,
indulge,
humour,
cater to,
pander to,
fawn on
in the sense of indulge
Definition
to yield to or gratify (a whim or desire for)
My success has let me indulge my love of expensive cars.
Synonyms
gratify,
satisfy,
fulfil,
feed,
give way to,
yield to,
cater to,
pander to,
regale,
gladden,
satiate,
go along with
in the sense of inflict
Definition
to impose (something unpleasant) on
The dog attacked her, inflicting serious injuries.
Synonyms
impose,
exact,
administer,
visit,
apply,
deliver,
levy,
wreak,
mete or deal out
in the sense of vent
Definition
to release or express freely
She telephoned her best friend to vent her frustration.