wrecking

American

[rek-ing] / ˈrɛk ɪŋ /

noun

the act, work, or business of a wrecker.

adjective

employed or for use in wrecking.

a wrecking crew.

Etymology

Origin of wrecking

First recorded in 1795–1805; wreck + -ing ¹

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.

They’ll be digging into why money stress is wrecking your life — and how to fix it.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

The contenders were a departure from the usual lineup at the event, known for wheeled machines equipped with wrecking tools.

From Barron's • Jan. 8, 2026

Choreographer Mark Morris staved off the federal government’s arts wrecking ball by salvaging his latest work, “Moon,” a commission for the Kennedy Center’s Earth to Space festival in April.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 10, 2025

The chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, Riel Karmy-Jones, has said the anti-jury proposal sends “a wrecking ball” through the British system of justice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 7, 2025

“I had a dream that was us and somebody drove up with one of those giant crane magnets from the car wrecking yards.”

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023