wreak
[ reek ]
/ rik /
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.
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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”
OTHER WORDS FROM wreak
wreaker, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wreak
wreak , wreck.Words nearby wreak
wrasse, wrastle, wrath, wrathful, wrathy, wreak, wreak havoc, wreath, wreathe, wreathed column, wreathy
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for wreak
British Dictionary definitions for wreak
wreak
/ (riːk) /
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 forms of wreak
wreaker, nounWord Origin for wreak
Old English wrecan; related to Old Frisian wreka, Old High German rehhan (German rächen), Old Norse reka, Latin urgēre to push
undefined wreak
See wrought
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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