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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wrecks
Kevin Duchschere, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Bankruptcies, drunk driving charges, delinquent child support, foreclosures, nickel-and-dime car wrecks, suspicious slip-and-falls, dubious claims of disabilities — the stock-in- trade of a run-of-the-mill street lawyer whose law school dreams of riches had faded so dim they were almost gone.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Advocates cite numerous studies showing that small children in car wrecks are more likely to be severely injured or killed because seat belts aren’t designed for their small frames.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
Your job is to break up the wrecks of massive ships and space hulks, carving them apart to release valuable components which can be reused or recycled at huge profits by your despicable space overlords.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2025
And one expert has suggested that steel or concrete barriers can also help guard against deadly attacks like the one in Grand Blanc Township, as well as unintentional fatal wrecks and may even help businesses stave off plaintiff lawsuits.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 1 Oct. 2025
The only movement is that of goats who nibble the long grass that grows around the Cold War aircraft wrecks that litter this forlorn spot on Grenada’s east coast.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 19 Sep. 2025
Researchers know about the wrecks because reporting any commercial ship that sails on the lakes is required; from the early 19th century to the 20th century, about 40,000 ships sailed the Great Lakes, Baillod said.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
Dehydration, heat stroke, bike wrecks, a bad trip; these are just a few of the hazards a burner may face in Black Rock City.
—Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
Thasha Batts, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
Bacon takes his time getting to the fateful voyage; there are myriad sidebars of varying interest on topics such as Great Lakes shipping and the rise of taconite, two lake wrecks that foreshadowed the Fitz, even the sailors’ favorite watering holes.
—Kevin Duchschere, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Bankruptcies, drunk driving charges, delinquent child support, foreclosures, nickel-and-dime car wrecks, suspicious slip-and-falls, dubious claims of disabilities — the stock-in- trade of a run-of-the-mill street lawyer whose law school dreams of riches had faded so dim they were almost gone.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Advocates cite numerous studies showing that small children in car wrecks are more likely to be severely injured or killed because seat belts aren’t designed for their small frames.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
Your job is to break up the wrecks of massive ships and space hulks, carving them apart to release valuable components which can be reused or recycled at huge profits by your despicable space overlords.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2025
And one expert has suggested that steel or concrete barriers can also help guard against deadly attacks like the one in Grand Blanc Township, as well as unintentional fatal wrecks and may even help businesses stave off plaintiff lawsuits.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 1 Oct. 2025
The only movement is that of goats who nibble the long grass that grows around the Cold War aircraft wrecks that litter this forlorn spot on Grenada’s east coast.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 19 Sep. 2025
Researchers know about the wrecks because reporting any commercial ship that sails on the lakes is required; from the early 19th century to the 20th century, about 40,000 ships sailed the Great Lakes, Baillod said.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
Dehydration, heat stroke, bike wrecks, a bad trip; these are just a few of the hazards a burner may face in Black Rock City.
—Denver Nicks, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
Messy data wrecks forecasts, distorts reporting and wastes time.
—Thasha Batts, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrecks
Noun
-
The changing gravitational field as a star sheds mass can disrupt the planets' orbits, resulting in many collisions between asteroids, comets and surviving planets and moons over billions of years that can grind solid bodies down to dust and small chunks.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Just this month, the regulator opened a new inquiry into dozens of reports that Teslas with FSD engaged had violated traffic laws, with some of these incidents leading to collisions and injuries.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Two married sea-explorers are stranded, Gilligan-style, after a storm shipwrecks their craft.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
There are heated confrontations and a slap, and Alma ruins her shot at tenure after stealing a colleague's prescription pad to get more pain meds.—
Gerrad Hall,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
-
What to do in Split Split is a diverse blend of ancient and modern life, where Roman ruins stand alongside modern cafés and a bustling harbor.—
Chris Dong,
AFAR Media,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But most deer versus vehicle crashes are the result of breeding season, when bucks are active and increasing their movement.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Three people were killed and one injured in three vehicle crashes on Arkansas roads on Wednesday and Friday, according to preliminary police reports.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Each participant had lost central vision in one eye due to dry AMD, which destroys light-sensitive macular cells over time.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Oct. 2025
-
An arson fire destroys the 43-year-old Globe Theatre on March 8 (the arsonist was never caught, but a firebug had set several blazes in the park that winter).—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This would cause large crowds, traffic, accidents, shoplifting and other issues, leading officers to work extra hours.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Road accidents are the leading cause of death among young men.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
However, when a shipwreck strands them on a deserted island, Annie discovers Chopper is a fraud and knows nothing about survival, leaving her in charge of figuring out how to keep them alive.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Aug. 2025
-
When a shipwreck strands them on a deserted island, Annie discovers Chopper is a fraud and knows nothing about survival, leaving her in charge of figuring out how to keep them alive.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wrecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrecks. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share