The divers found a wreck on the sea-bed.
Source: tatoeba (41152)
Wreck
/ˈɹɛk/
Synonyms for "wreck" (343 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (69)
Strong matches (103)
crushdamndamnationde energizede-energizedeal destructiondebacledebilitatedecapitatedecaydecimatedecimationdefacedemolishdepredatedepredationdesolatedesolationdespoildespoilment
Show 49 more words
despoliationdestroydestructiondevastatedevastationdevourdilapidatedisabledisassembledisasterdisenabledisintegratedisintegrationdismantledisorganizationdisruptiondissolutiondissolvedo indogdrainenfeebleengorgeforcefragmentgo ongobblegobble upgriefgroundgutgut with firehammerhamstringhavocheaphecatombholocausthors de combathulkill hapimposeinactivateincapacitateincinerateinflictjalopykiboshknock
Noun(15 words)
Verb(16 words)
Adjective(3 words)
Related words (171)
lamelay in ruinslay wastelevellootmachinemaimmake mincemeat ofmanglemarmaulmere wreckmisadventuremischancemisfortunemishandlemishapmotormotor vehiclemotorcar
Show 108 more words
motorized vehiclemuckmugmurdernasty blownervous wreckoverwhelmperditionpick to piecespile uppileuppillageplay havoc withplunderpullpull downpull in piecespull to piecespulverizeputqueerqueer the worksrageramprampagerantraperattletrapravageraverazereduce to rubblerendriotroarrub outruinruinateruinationruinsrun agroundsabotagesacksapsavageshamblesshattershipwreckshockshootsinkskeletonslaughtersmashsmashupsow chaosspikesplitspoilspoliationstaggering blowstormstrandsubvertsullysunderswallow uptake aparttake the groundteartear aparttear aroundtear downtear to piecestear to shredstear to tattersterrorizethrow into disordertotaltotal losstragedytrashtubunbuildundermineundoundoingunfitunleash destructionunleash the hurricaneunmakeupheavevandalismvandalizevaporizeviolatevisitvoiturewashoutwasteweakenwheelswingwrackwrack and ruinwrack upwreakwreak havoc
Verb(13 words)
Noun(28 words)
Adjective(2 words)
shipwreckedtotal amount
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: crash, ruins, abrogate, accident, annihilate.
- Sentence evidence is available for wreck, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "wreck".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "wreck"
Keep "wreck" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "wreck" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "wreck", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "wreck" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriesMore specific
16 entriesCollocations
11 entriescar wreckemotional wreckship wreckshipwreckshipwrecked crewtotal wrecktrain wreckwreck sitewreckage sitewrecked carwrecking ball
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesTranslations
31 translations across 19 languages.
Arabic
1 entries- تَصَادُّم noun (collision)
Bulgarian
1 entries- ава́рия noun (collision)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 碰撞 noun (collision)
Dutch
1 entries- botsing noun (collision)
Finnish
3 entries- kolari noun (collision)
- törmäys noun (collision)
- yhteentörmäys noun (collision)
French
1 entries- accident noun (collision)
German
1 entries- Zusammenstoß noun (collision)
Hebrew
1 entries- גרוטאה noun (collision)
Hungarian
1 entries- karambol noun (collision)
Italian
2 entries- collisione noun (collision)
- disastro noun (collision)
Japanese
1 entries- 衝突 noun (collision)
Korean
1 entries- 충돌 noun (collision)
Macedonian
1 entries- хава́рија noun (collision)
Portuguese
1 entries- choque noun (collision)
Romanian
3 entries- accident noun (collision)
- avarie noun (collision)
- coliziune noun (collision)
Russian
1 entries- ава́рия noun (collision)
Spanish
4 entries- accidente noun (collision)
- choque noun (collision)
- colisión noun (collision)
- desastre noun (collision)
Swedish
3 entries- krasch noun (collision)
- krock noun (collision)
- sammanstötning noun (collision)
White Hmong
1 entries- tsoo noun (collision)
Sample sentences
23 total sentences available.
It took several hours to clear the mess left from the wreck of the truck and several cars.
Source: tatoeba (50167)
A stewardess was rescued from the wreck.
Source: tatoeba (51965)
He identified the wreck of the Titanic.
Source: tatoeba (288317)
Showing 4 of 23 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "wreck"?
Closest matches include crash, ruins, abrogate, accident, annihilate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "wreck"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.