verb
wreak
reek
verb
1
To cause or inflict something damaging or violent, such as havoc, damage, or revenge.
"The storm wreaked havoc on the coastal town."
"He wanted to wreak revenge on the people who had wronged him."
How to Use Wreak
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo cause a lot of damage or trouble, usually paired with "havoc" or "revenge".
Common mistake
Almost always used in the fixed phrase "wreak havoc" — people often misspell it as "wreck havoc", which is wrong; "wreak" is the correct word here.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
wreak havoc
wreak revenge
wreak vengeance
Word Forms
wreaks plural
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The storm _____ havoc on the coastal town.
Etymology
From Old English wrecan, "to drive out, punish, avenge" — related to "wreck".