as in inflicting
to cause to suffer punishment or vengeance for
wreaked their vengeance on those they considered enemies
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Recent Examples of wreaking
For Trudeau, this week’s wildfires are yet another sign that climate change is wreaking havoc on natural ecosystems and increasing fire activity across the country, including in historically humid landscapes.
—
Denise Chow, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
Just days earlier, mobs of young street racers swarmed a Georgia intersection in the middle of the night, wreaking havoc and disturbing neighbors.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The film focused on Josh Brolin’s Thanos wreaking havoc across the universe, and the fight to stop him.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 19 Apr. 2026
Gluesenkamp Perez, who represents portions of Washington’s Pacific coast, sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday warning that sea lions are wreaking havoc on her district’s fishing industry.
—Haris Alic, The Washington Examiner, 17 Apr. 2026
Playing as one of the two behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 3-4-2-1 Farke has settled on, Stach’s got the defensive steel to bulk up the engine room out of possession, but the guile and stamina to roam forward, wreaking chaos in attack.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Back in Peshawar, a stone’s throw from the hospital wing, some of the weapons wreaking new havoc along Pakistan’s mineral belt were laid out for CNN to see.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 3 Feb. 2026
This alliance, Hotez says, is wreaking immeasurable damage to Americans’ trust in science and healthcare.
—Will Carless, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
While people’s claims history, inflation, higher labor and construction costs play into increases nationwide, Coloradans face the additional burden of living in a state where the risk is high of catastrophes wreaking billions of dollars in damage.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025
Denise Chow, NBC news, 24 Apr. 2026
Just days earlier, mobs of young street racers swarmed a Georgia intersection in the middle of the night, wreaking havoc and disturbing neighbors.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
The film focused on Josh Brolin’s Thanos wreaking havoc across the universe, and the fight to stop him.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 19 Apr. 2026
Gluesenkamp Perez, who represents portions of Washington’s Pacific coast, sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday warning that sea lions are wreaking havoc on her district’s fishing industry.
—Haris Alic, The Washington Examiner, 17 Apr. 2026
Playing as one of the two behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 3-4-2-1 Farke has settled on, Stach’s got the defensive steel to bulk up the engine room out of possession, but the guile and stamina to roam forward, wreaking chaos in attack.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Back in Peshawar, a stone’s throw from the hospital wing, some of the weapons wreaking new havoc along Pakistan’s mineral belt were laid out for CNN to see.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 3 Feb. 2026
This alliance, Hotez says, is wreaking immeasurable damage to Americans’ trust in science and healthcare.
—Will Carless, USA Today, 20 Jan. 2026
While people’s claims history, inflation, higher labor and construction costs play into increases nationwide, Coloradans face the additional burden of living in a state where the risk is high of catastrophes wreaking billions of dollars in damage.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wreaking
Verb
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Saddam towered over Iraq’s political regime for nearly 30 years, plunging the country into multiple destructive wars, persecuting his own citizens and inflicting widespread trauma and suffering.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
24 Apr. 2026
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The proposals, announced Wednesday, underscore the economic damage the Iran war is inflicting on Europe, which only recently emerged from the energy crunch precipitated by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Despite outstanding architecture, what makes this imposing building truly notorious is its storied past.—
Regina Zumarraga,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
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While Lady Gaga took the theme literally, slipping into a huge, imposing fuchsia-pink ensemble, others played it simple.—
Blanche Marcel,
Vanity Fair,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Tucker’s starting to find his way as far as putting the barrel on the ball.—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
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The Senate Banking Committee advanced Kevin Warsh’s nomination along party lines on Wednesday, putting him on track for confirmation before Powell’s term as chair ends May 15.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wreaking. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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