wreak
verb (used with object)
to inflict or execute (punishment, vengeance, etc.).
wreaking
-
present participleof wreak.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
Fires have been wreaking havoc across France and Spain, as they often do when conditions are dry and wind is high.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
Meanwhile in Hubei province, at least two tornadoes have formed, wreaking havoc across cities.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
And they were unaware, or unconcerned, that that chemical was wreaking havoc on the soil, weakening the trees’ defenses, leaving them extremely vulnerable to disease.
From Slate ● Apr. 20, 2026
Climate change is wreaking havoc on agriculture, bringing stronger storms, longer droughts, erratic rainfall and rising temperatures.
From Salon ● Apr. 11, 2026
But long before Pacheco’s indestructible sow rose to prominence in the townsfolk’s fertile imaginations, another phantom was born to roam through the Miracle Valley wreaking all manner of curious havoc.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
