Wreak vs wreck

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Grammarist

Wreak means inflict vengeance, to cause harm, to unleash anger. Wreak is a verb, related words are wreaks, wreaked, wreaking, wreaker. Wreak comes from the Old English word wrecan, which means to avenge, to punish. Wreak is pronounced with a long e sound.

Wreck means to cause or be involved in the destruction of something, to spoil or damage something or be involved in spoiling or damaging something. Wreck may be used as a noun or a verb, related terms are wrecks, wrecked, wrecking. Wreck is derived from the Anglo-Norman French word, wrec. Wreck is pronounced with a short e sound.

Examples

Oman weather: Flash floods wreak havoc in many parts of Sultanate (The Times of Oman)

Nearly 50 people have been killed and 80 others injured in Pakistan due to accidents triggered by torrential rains wreaking havoc in the country, officials said on Monday. (The Hans India)

The jeopardy now comes from a megalomaniacal yak (dubbed in fearsome tones by the Whiplash Oscar-winner JK Simmons) who steals the chi (life force, for those not familiar with the Chinese lexicon) of legendary warriors in order to wreak vengeance on panda-kind. (The Hindustan Times)

“I have concluded that the wreck and remaining debris on the sea floor no longer constitute a hazard to navigation.” (The Maritime Executive)

A tractor-trailer wreck blocked southbound lanes on U.S. 220 north of Rocky Mount in Franklin County Wednesday morning, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation’s website. (The Roanoke Times)

A junior doctor who raised concerns about staff shortages says his career has been “wrecked” by an alleged lack of protection for whistleblowers. (The Evening Standard)

“You’re looking at a wrecking crew,” Cary James, the team’s coach and head of Bangor High School’s science, technology and engineering department, said during a recent school committee meeting where the team was recognized for its achievements. (The Bangor Daily News)