Wreak
verb
To cause something to happen in a violent or harmful way.
The storm wreaked havoc on the small coastal village.
Often appears as...
- wreak havoc
- wreak damage
verb
To express or show your anger, stress, etc. especially in a destructive or harmful way.
We must find a way to prevent troubled individuals from wreaking harm on innocent people.
Often appears as...
- wreak harm
- wreak vengeance
verb
To cause something to happen in a violent or harmful way.
The storm wreaked havoc on the small coastal village.
Often appears as...
- wreak havoc
- wreak damage
verb
To express or show your anger, stress, etc. especially in a destructive or harmful way.
We must find a way to prevent troubled individuals from wreaking harm on innocent people.
Often appears as...
- wreak harm
- wreak vengeance
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Extreme impact
Use 'wreak' to describe the disastrous effects of something with extensive negative impact.
The corrupt politician wreaked chaos throughout the administration.
Pro Tip 2/3Force of nature
'Wreak' is often used with natural disasters to emphasize their power and resultant damage.
The hurricane is expected to wreak devastation across the coast.
Pro Tip 3/3Not for accidents
'Wreak' implies intention or inevitability, not accidental occurrences.
The invasive species wreaked ecological imbalance in the new environment.
Compare with
causeexertimposeinflictmete outproduceunleashvisit
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Video examples
Drunk Monkeys PIPE National...
bone the catch with their distinctively long tails aren't afraid to raid homes in search of food and just an all-around good time now grapes are always good full of fruit sugar for the energy they'll need to wreak havoc like a bunch of seven year olds and an out-of-control
Video examples
Tyrone Hayes + Penelope...
they actually have the capacity to lay eggs even though they're genetic males. What we proposed, and what we've now generated support for, is that what atrazine is doing is wreaking havoc causing a hormone imbalance. Normally the testes should make testosterone,
Video examples
These bacteria eat...
But I do understand why the concept of bacterial help might make some people a little nervous. After all, if plastic is everywhere and these bacteria eat plastic, isn't there a risk of these bacteria getting out in the environment and wreaking havoc?
Video examples
Sewer Diver Loves His...
mean death Carlos tries not to think about the soup of bacteria he's swimming in including tetanus typhoid and cholera his suit protects him but it is an armor a sharp puncture could wreak havoc our skin also you have to get to the hospital
Video examples
Monkey Thieves Raid...
bowl on the catch with their distinctively long tails aren't afraid to raid homes in search of food and Justin all around good time now grapes are always good full of fruit sugar for the energy they'll need to wreak havoc
Video examples
Could the Earth be...
From asteroids capable of destroying entire species, to gamma-ray bursts and supernovae that could exterminate life on Earth, outer space has no shortage of forces that could wreak havoc on our tiny planet.
Video examples
Sewer Diving PIPE National...
can be death Carlos tries not to think about the soup of bacteria he's swimming in including tetanus typhoid and cholera his suit protects him but it is an armor a sharp puncture could wreak havoc it is
Video examples
This Plan to Save a Rare...
and cats and rats that wreak havoc with with with seabird eggs and with the chicks this is an enormous crisis that's going on almost completely invisible to everyone in the world because seabirds
Video examples
Rethink how you think...
Melton which are caused not just by greedy investment bankers but also overconfident consumers who overestimate their ability to pay back their loans and mortgages or wreak on fidence is
Video examples
An urgent call to...
That would wreck my country. That would wreak havoc in my country. That would have the potential to literally destroy our land, our livelihood, our way of life.
Video examples
Drunk Monkeys PIPE National...
bone the catch with their distinctively long tails aren't afraid to raid homes in search of food and just an all-around good time now grapes are always good full of fruit sugar for the energy they'll need to wreak havoc like a bunch of seven year olds and an out-of-control
Video examples
Tyrone Hayes + Penelope...
they actually have the capacity to lay eggs even though they're genetic males. What we proposed, and what we've now generated support for, is that what atrazine is doing is wreaking havoc causing a hormone imbalance. Normally the testes should make testosterone,
Video examples
These bacteria eat...
But I do understand why the concept of bacterial help might make some people a little nervous. After all, if plastic is everywhere and these bacteria eat plastic, isn't there a risk of these bacteria getting out in the environment and wreaking havoc?
Video examples
Sewer Diver Loves His...
mean death Carlos tries not to think about the soup of bacteria he's swimming in including tetanus typhoid and cholera his suit protects him but it is an armor a sharp puncture could wreak havoc our skin also you have to get to the hospital
Video examples
Monkey Thieves Raid...
bowl on the catch with their distinctively long tails aren't afraid to raid homes in search of food and Justin all around good time now grapes are always good full of fruit sugar for the energy they'll need to wreak havoc
Video examples
Could the Earth be...
From asteroids capable of destroying entire species, to gamma-ray bursts and supernovae that could exterminate life on Earth, outer space has no shortage of forces that could wreak havoc on our tiny planet.
Video examples
Sewer Diving PIPE National...
can be death Carlos tries not to think about the soup of bacteria he's swimming in including tetanus typhoid and cholera his suit protects him but it is an armor a sharp puncture could wreak havoc it is
Video examples
This Plan to Save a Rare...
and cats and rats that wreak havoc with with with seabird eggs and with the chicks this is an enormous crisis that's going on almost completely invisible to everyone in the world because seabirds
Video examples
Rethink how you think...
Melton which are caused not just by greedy investment bankers but also overconfident consumers who overestimate their ability to pay back their loans and mortgages or wreak on fidence is
Video examples
An urgent call to...
That would wreck my country. That would wreak havoc in my country. That would have the potential to literally destroy our land, our livelihood, our way of life.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Mamie Gummer
American Actress
I know girlfriends of mine who, when they were approaching pregnancy and starting a family, consistently went through a period right beforehand that was a last gasp kind of thing where they just wreak havoc. They fall apart, in a profound way, because there's some awareness that that's the last time they can do that for awhile.
Quote examples
Roman Reigns
American Wrestler
I have a really strong opponent in Randy Orton. A former multi-time world champion. He's held just about every title under the sun. And he's done it all in a major way. He's basically wreaked havoc and ran roughshod over the WWE for quite some time. Some people might forget that.
Quote examples
Russ Carnahan
American Politician
There is little doubt that Iran is on a mission to rebuild its nuclear weapons and use that capability to wreak havoc and destruction on Israel and others throughout the world.
Quote examples
Dean Koontz
American Author
Like all of us in this storm between birth and death, I can wreak no great changes on the world, only small changes for the better, I hope, in the lives of those I love.
Quote examples
Fabrizio Moreira
Ecuadorian Politician
False news, when combined with social media, can wreak havoc thanks to its potential of reaching millions in a short span. The effects can be quite disturbing.
Quote examples
Simon Winchester
English Author
I find the science behind major natural events almost more interesting than the way in which those same events wreak their effects on human society.
Quote examples
Saul David
British Historian
Ever since World War I, superior force is no longer measured in terms of men or horses, but in the means to wreak destruction.
Quote examples
Neil deGrasse Tyson
American Scientist
I'm fascinated by the deaths of stars and the havoc they wreak on their environments.
Quote examples
Evan Osnos
American Journalist
Fact-checking can wreak havoc on Chinese political mythology.
Quote examples
Christie Brinkley
American Model
Photoaging is the worst. It wreaks havoc.
Quote examples
Mamie Gummer
American Actress
I know girlfriends of mine who, when they were approaching pregnancy and starting a family, consistently went through a period right beforehand that was a last gasp kind of thing where they just wreak havoc. They fall apart, in a profound way, because there's some awareness that that's the last time they can do that for awhile.
Quote examples
Roman Reigns
American Wrestler
I have a really strong opponent in Randy Orton. A former multi-time world champion. He's held just about every title under the sun. And he's done it all in a major way. He's basically wreaked havoc and ran roughshod over the WWE for quite some time. Some people might forget that.
Quote examples
Russ Carnahan
American Politician
There is little doubt that Iran is on a mission to rebuild its nuclear weapons and use that capability to wreak havoc and destruction on Israel and others throughout the world.
Quote examples
Dean Koontz
American Author
Like all of us in this storm between birth and death, I can wreak no great changes on the world, only small changes for the better, I hope, in the lives of those I love.
Quote examples
Fabrizio Moreira
Ecuadorian Politician
False news, when combined with social media, can wreak havoc thanks to its potential of reaching millions in a short span. The effects can be quite disturbing.
Quote examples
Simon Winchester
English Author
I find the science behind major natural events almost more interesting than the way in which those same events wreak their effects on human society.
Quote examples
Saul David
British Historian
Ever since World War I, superior force is no longer measured in terms of men or horses, but in the means to wreak destruction.
Quote examples
Neil deGrasse Tyson
American Scientist
I'm fascinated by the deaths of stars and the havoc they wreak on their environments.
Quote examples
Evan Osnos
American Journalist
Fact-checking can wreak havoc on Chinese political mythology.
Quote examples
Christie Brinkley
American Model
Photoaging is the worst. It wreaks havoc.
Example 1 of 10
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