Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for wrecking on Thesaurus.com the act, work, or business of a wrecker . Show More
employed or for use in wrecking: a wrecking crew. Show More
Origin of wrecking First recorded in
1795–1805; wreck +
-ing1 any building, structure, or thing reduced to a state of ruin. wreckage , goods, etc., remaining above water after a shipwreck , especially when cast ashore.the ruin or destruction of a vessel in the course of navigation; shipwreck. a vessel in a state of ruin from disaster at sea, on rocks, etc. the ruin or destruction of anything: the wreck of one's hopes. a person of ruined health; someone in bad shape physically or mentally: The strain of his work left him a wreck. Show More
to cause the wreck of (a vessel); shipwreck. to involve in a wreck. to cause the ruin or destruction of: to wreck a car. to tear down; demolish: to wreck a building. to ruin or impair severely: Fast living wrecked their health. Show More
verb (used without object) to be involved in a wreck; become wrecked: The trains wrecked at the crossing. to act as a wrecker ; engage in wrecking . Show More
Origin of wreck 1200–50; (noun) Middle English wrec, wrech, wrek < Old Danish wrækæ wreck; (v.) late Middle English, derivative of the noun
Related forms un·wrecked , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for wrecking Contemporary Examples of wrecking In a country where stability is still fragile and requires careful tending, Ebola is a wrecking ball.
And what did Cyrus tell her hair-tossing protégée, besides “Return the wrecking ball NOW, lady”?
You come in like a wrecking ball Never hit so hard in love All I wanted was some breakfast, Daaad.
His first shows were in Asbury Park, at a small run down Convention Hall that appeared destined for the wrecking ball.
Tongues were wagging when Miley Cyrus released the R-rated video for her song “Wrecking Ball.”
Historical Examples of wrecking They have found the books; they have understood them; and they are wrecking the place.
He shivered to think how near he had gone to wrecking all the happiness that lay ahead of him.
That is one of the points old Gladstone is wrecking the country on.
Cannot you see, woman, that by this language you are wrecking your last hope of safety?
He was dressed in sheepskins, and, I believe, lived by wrecking .
British Dictionary definitions for wrecking to involve in or suffer disaster or destruction (tr) to cause the wreck of (a ship) Show More
the accidental destruction of a ship at sea the ship so destroyed maritime law goods cast ashore from a wrecked vessel a person or thing that has suffered ruin or dilapidation the remains of something that has been destroyed old-fashioned the act of wrecking or the state of being wrecked; ruin or destruction Show More
Word Origin for wreck C13: from Scandinavian; compare Icelandic rek. See wrack ², wreak
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for wrecking n. early 13c., "goods cast ashore after a shipwreck, flotsam," from Anglo-French wrec , from Old Norse *wrek (cf. Norwegian, Icelandic rek ) "wreck, flotsam," related to reka "to drive, push" (see wreak ). The meaning "a shipwreck" is first recorded mid-15c.; that of "a wrecked ship" is from c.1500. General sense of "remains of anything that has been ruined" is recorded from 1713; applied by 1795 to dissipated persons.
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v. "to destroy, ruin," c.1500, from wreck (n.). Related: Wrecked ; wrecking . Earlier (12c.) it meant "drive out or away, remove;" also "take vengeance."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
