English · Word Candidate

wreck

/ˈɹɛk/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: wrecks · wrecking

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Something or someone that has been ruined.

Noun

He was an emotional wreck after the death of his wife.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

The remains of something that has been severely damaged or worn down.

Noun

To the fair haven of my native home, / The vvreck of vvhat I was, fatigued I come, […]

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

To destroy violently; to cause severe damage to something, to a point where it no longer works, or is useless.

Verb

He wrecked the car in a collision.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

To ruin or dilapidate.

Verb

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

What does “wreck” mean?

Something or someone that has been ruined.

Is “wreck” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.