verb
wreak
REEK/riːk/
To cause or inflict harm.
Severe storms wreak havoc on coastal towns every hurricane season.
Etymology
Old English wrecan linked driving out with punishment and revenge. Its sense of taking vengeance later broadened to inflicting damage or destruction, as in wreaking havoc.
In context
The earthquake triggers massive avalanches that wreak terrible destruction on Everest and the remote valley of Langtang.
More examples
- A broken pipe is wreaking havoc in the basement.
- Years of neglect have wreaked lasting damage on the building.
- The invaders wreaked terrible destruction on the village.
Forms
wreak · wreaks · wreaked · wreaking