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View synonyms for wreck

wreck

[ rek ]

noun

  1. any building, structure, or thing reduced to a state of ruin.
  2. wreckage, goods, etc., remaining above water after a shipwreck, especially when cast ashore.
  3. the ruin or destruction of a vessel in the course of navigation; shipwreck.
  4. a vessel in a state of ruin from disaster at sea, on rocks, etc.
  5. the ruin or destruction of anything:

    the wreck of one's hopes.

  6. a person of ruined health; someone in bad shape physically or mentally:

    The strain of his work left him a wreck.



verb (used with object)

  1. to cause the wreck of (a vessel); shipwreck.
  2. to involve in a wreck.
  3. to cause the ruin or destruction of:

    to wreck a car.

    Synonyms: shatter, devastate, destroy

  4. to tear down; demolish:

    to wreck a building.

  5. to ruin or impair severely:

    Fast living wrecked their health.

verb (used without object)

  1. to be involved in a wreck; become wrecked:

    The trains wrecked at the crossing.

  2. to act as a wrecker; engage in wrecking.

wreck

/ rɛk /

verb

  1. to involve in or suffer disaster or destruction
  2. tr to cause the wreck of (a ship)


noun

    1. the accidental destruction of a ship at sea
    2. the ship so destroyed
  1. maritime law goods cast ashore from a wrecked vessel
  2. a person or thing that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
  3. the remains of something that has been destroyed
  4. old-fashioned.
    the act of wrecking or the state of being wrecked; ruin or destruction

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Other Words From

  • un·wrecked adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of wreck1

First recorded in 1200–50; (noun) Middle English wrec, wrech, wrek, from Old Danish wrækæ “wreck”; (verb) late Middle English, derivative of the noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of wreck1

C13: from Scandinavian; compare Icelandic rek. See wrack ², wreak

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Synonym Study

See spoil.

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Example Sentences

Or for the first time, if you missed the glorious train-wreck that was the Sex Pistols.

Big Bird's honest reaction will emotionally wreck you in a way even The Fault in Our Stars can't.

Given such a multi-vehicle car wreck, voters have understandably tuned out and turnout is expected to be extremely low.

We love a train wreck because it makes us feel better about our own problems.

The first car wreck that followed is a funny story about our teenage years that we truly enjoy telling.

She saw in the chair a thin, broken figure, a drawn brown face, a wreck of a man.

An old horse, with traces hanging and harness a wreck, stands snorting beside the boy.

The gale still lasted, and the steamer was in momentary danger of becoming a complete wreck.

In passing round Cape Flinders, there appeared to be a considerable diminution in the remains of the Frederick's wreck.

Many years ago, while a clergyman on the coast of Cornwall was in the midst of his sermon, the alarm was given, A wreck!

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