wrought
Americanverb
adjective
-
elaborated; embellished.
-
not rough or crude.
-
produced or shaped by beating with a hammer, as iron or silver articles.
verb
adjective
-
metallurgy shaped by hammering or beating
-
(often in combination) formed, fashioned, or worked as specified
well-wrought
-
decorated or made with delicate care
Usage
Wrought is sometimes used as if it were the past tense and past participle of wreak as in the hurricane wrought havoc in coastal areas. Many people think this use is incorrect
Synonym Usage
See worked.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of wrought
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English wroght, metathetic variant of worht, past participle of worchen “to work”; see origin at work
Explanation
Wrought is an adjective that means "molded, shaped, or manufactured." A wrought-iron fence has been shaped to fit a particular ornamental style. Wrought is most often used as an adjective to describe the shaping, altering, molding, and manufacturing of various metals. As a verb, wrought is the archaic past tense of the word work but is often confused as a past tense for the word wreak, which means "to cause damage." The confusion arises from the fact that the phrase "wrought havoc" is an acceptable variant of the phrase "wreaked havoc," but even here, wrought is etymologically rooted in the word work not wreak.
Vocabulary lists containing wrought
100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT words Beginning with W,X,Y, and Z
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Kilbourne is a product of Wrought Studio, a trademark of Wayfair.
From New York Times • Apr. 21, 2022
Wrought with emotion, as three generations of the female members of his family made the trip to safety, he told the Associated Press they had fled Kyiv after fighting there intensified.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 1, 2022
Wrought ironwork lines the doorway, leading to designer spaces with tile floors, walls of glass and colorful fireplaces.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 30, 2021
Wrought from a long-vacant whiskey blending and bottling facility dating to the 1890s, the interior, set off with mosaic tiles and arched windows, gives everyone a view.
From Washington Post • Jul. 11, 2016
Wrought all of black iron, the wheel stood taller than a man.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
