WREAK
What does "WREAK" mean?
To cause or inflict (something harmful), as in to wreak havoc or wreak vengeance.
Meanings
- To bring about or inflict harm, damage, or destruction. The flood wreaked havoc on the low-lying farms.
- To carry out or take (revenge or punishment) upon someone. He vowed to wreak vengeance on those who had betrayed him. formal
Did you know?
- WREAK and 'wreck' are etymological relatives: both trace to a Germanic root meaning to drive out or avenge, so wreaking havoc and wrecking something spring from the same source.
Word origin
From Old English 'wrecan' (to drive out, avenge, punish), from a Germanic root shared with 'wreck' and 'wrack'; its original sense of avenging survives mostly in 'wreak vengeance'.
Remember it
WREAK rhymes with 'reek' - the smell that lingers after you've wreaked havoc.
A little poem
The storm came in to wreak its will-
and left the valley wrecked and still.
couplet
What it teaches
To wreak is to drive a force outward; what you unleash on others rarely stops where you aimed it.
Quick facts
What does WREAK mean?
To cause or inflict (something harmful), as in to wreak havoc or wreak vengeance.
Is WREAK a valid word?
Yes — WREAK is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is WREAK?
WREAK has 5 letters and 1 syllable.
Where does WREAK come from?
From Old English 'wrecan' (to drive out, avenge, punish), from a Germanic root shared with 'wreck' and 'wrack'; its original sense of avenging survives mostly in 'wreak vengeance'.
What can WREAK teach us?
To wreak is to drive a force outward; what you unleash on others rarely stops where you aimed it.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.