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
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
Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2025
After years of seeing wrecks in his rearview mirror, Dale Jr. will be in the unique position of pointing, laughing, and giving style points when someone gets airborne in a homemade cheeseburger.
—Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025
Back in the fortress, the Man of Steel scolds Krypto for wrecking the joint while he was gone.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wreck
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Noun
Two women in another vehicle came upon the wreck and pulled off to the shoulder to help the woman inside, police told the outlet.
—Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2025
After years of seeing wrecks in his rearview mirror, Dale Jr. will be in the unique position of pointing, laughing, and giving style points when someone gets airborne in a homemade cheeseburger.
—Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
Part of the franchise’s challenge is to incorporate Leonard without wrecking team chemistry.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025
Back in the fortress, the Man of Steel scolds Krypto for wrecking the joint while he was gone.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wreck
Cite this Entry
“Wreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wreck. Accessed 16 Apr. 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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