wreak

[reek]

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verb (used with object)

to inflict or execute (punishment, vengeance, etc.): They wreaked havoc on the enemy.

to carry out the promptings of (one's rage, ill humor, will, desire, etc.), as on a victim or object: He wreaked his anger on the office staff.

Origin of wreak

before 900; Middle English wreken, Old English wrecan; cognate with German rächen to avenge, Old Norse reka to drive, avenge, Gothic wrikan to persecute; akin to Latin urgēre to drive, push

Related formswreak·er, noun

Can be confusedrack wrack wreak wreckracked wracked wreaked wrecked

Synonyms for wreak

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1. visit, vent, unleash.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for wreak

wreck, inflict, unleash, vent, execute, create, work, visit, effect, exercise

Examples from the Web for wreak

Contemporary Examples of wreak

The mother also made a plea to the violent ones who wreak such havoc.
11 Children Shot in Milwaukee, One in Her Grandpa's Lap
Michael Daly
November 12, 2014
They eat more than 500 kinds of plants and could wreak havoc if released into the North American environment.
The $10 Billion Pet Cheetah and Chimp Industry
Sharon Adarlo
July 20, 2014
Daniel Gross on how the shutdown could wreak havoc on a key part of the U.S. economy.
Tourism Is a Big Deal, and the Shutdown Will Ruin It
Daniel Gross
October 2, 2013
Why didn't God empower the Israelites to wreak vengeance on their enemies who were evil people?
Passover, Non-Violence And Gun Control
Aryeh Cohen
March 25, 2013
This summer's punishing heat wave could wreak havoc on grocery bills.
Will Food Prices Jump After the Heat Wave?
Matthew Zeitlin
August 11, 2012

Historical Examples of wreak

It had gripped savagely hold of him and was about to wreak upon him some terrific hurt.
White Fang
Jack London
Here was some thing, not wood nor iron, upon which to wreak his hate.
White Fang
Jack London
Roderic was inflamed with anger and disgust; but he had none, upon whom to wreak his revenge.
Imogen
William Godwin
And to think that you should be the man on whom he was to wreak his treachery.
The Night Riders
Ridgwell Cullum
Is there, then, no way to wreak the just revenge of a broken heart?
Recollections of Dante Gabriel Rossetti
T. Hall Caine

British Dictionary definitions for wreak

wreak

verb (tr)

to inflict (vengeance, etc) or to cause (chaos, etc)to wreak havoc on the enemy

to express, or gratify (anger, hatred, etc)

archaic to take vengeance for

Derived Formswreaker, noun

Word Origin for wreak

Old English wrecan; related to Old Frisian wreka, Old High German rehhan (German rächen), Old Norse reka, Latin urgēre to push

xref

See wrought

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for wreak

Old English wrecan "avenge," originally "to drive, drive out, punish" (class V strong verb; past tense wræc, past participle wrecen), from Proto-Germanic *wrekanan (cf. Old Saxon wrekan, Old Norse reka, Old Frisian wreka, Middle Dutch wreken "to drive, push, compel, pursue, throw," Old High German rehhan, German rächen "to avenge," Gothic wrikan "to persecute"), from PIE root *werg- "to work, to do" (cf. Lithuanian vergas "distress," vergas "slave;" Old Church Slavonic vragu "enemy;" Latin urgere; see urge (v.)). Meaning "inflict or take vengeance," with on, is recorded from late 15c.; that of "inflict or cause (damage or destruction)" is attested from 1817.