wreak

American  

[reek] / rik /

verb (used with object)

1. to inflict or execute (punishment, vengeance, etc.).

   They wreaked havoc on the enemy.

   Synonyms:

   unleash, vent, visit, inflict, impose

2. 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.

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idioms

1. wreak havoc. wreak havoc.

wreak British  

/ riːk /

verb

1. to inflict (vengeance, etc) or to cause (chaos, etc)

   to wreak havoc on the enemy

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

3. archaic to take vengeance for

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Usage

What’s the difference between wreak and reek? Wreak means to inflict or carry out something, especially something harmful—it’s most commonly used in the phrase wreak havoc, meaning to cause chaos or destruction or both. Reek most commonly means to give off a strong, unpleasant odor, as in Your socks reek, dude.While wreak is only ever used as a verb, reek can also be used as a noun meaning a strong, unpleasant smell, though this use is much less common.Wreak is always used with an object, usually some negative effect, as in The storm is expected to wreak destruction throughout the region.Reek usually functions without an object, though in some cases it is followed by the word of and the particular smell, as in It reeks of onions in here. This is also the case when reek is used in a more figurative way meaning to be penetrated or saturated with something negative, as in This case reeks of corruption.Wreak and reek are pronounced exactly the same, so it can be hard to remember which one is which, but you can remember that wreak begins with a w because it is often used in the context of things getting wrecked.Here’s an example of wreak and reek used correctly in the same sentence.Example: I like cooking with leeks, but my wife thinks they reek and says they wreak havoc on her ability to smell anything else.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between reeking and wreaking.

Other Word Forms

• wreaker noun

Etymology

Origin of wreak

First recorded 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”

Example Sentences

They could also become a real menace on the streets, where heavy, powerful EVs are already wreaking havoc with highway guardrails and other safety features.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many in the congregation are still sheltering at evacuation sites after the disaster wreaked havoc on the island four weeks ago.

From Barron's

Farr remembers how in January she was on the show’s set in Vancouver while the wildfires were wreaking havoc in Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times

In these scenarios, it’s reassuring to know that good prevails over evil or at least that the right guys triumph over whichever former Soviet republic or local militia is wreaking havoc.

From The Wall Street Journal

But lower infrastructure costs would erode Nvidia’s dominance in the ecosystem, while wreaking havoc across markets.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• bring about
• inflict
• unleash
• wreck