Synonyms of wrecking

wrecking 1 of 2

noun

as in wreck

the destruction or loss of a ship

the wrecking of the freighter was one of the worst disasters ever on the Great Lakes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wreck
• sinking
• shipwreck
• shipwrecking
• wreckage
• stranding
• beaching
• grounding
• foundering
• scuttling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recovery
• salvage
• salvaging

wrecking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of wreck

1

as in scuttling

to cause irreparable damage to (a ship) by running aground or sinking

many an unwary captain has wrecked his ship on the shoals that surround the island

Synonyms & Similar Words

• scuttling
• stranding
• shipwrecking
• foundering
• beaching

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recovering
• salvaging

2

as in destroying

to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of

most of the furniture on the ground floor was wrecked by the floodwaters

Synonyms & Similar Words

• destroying
• ruining
• demolishing
• shattering
• devastating
• smashing
• damaging
• overcoming
• wasting
• annihilating
• decimating
• extinguishing
• pulverizing
• eroding
• razing
• ravaging
• vaporizing
• marring
• crippling
• wracking
• totaling
• dismantling
• crushing
• killing
• creaming
• blasting
• tearing down
• breaking
• nuking
• defeating
• pulling down
• removing
• injuring
• doing in
• desolating
• rubbing out
• harming
• subduing
• impairing
• spoiling
• conquering
• disintegrating
• deteriorating
• mutilating
• licking
• trimming
• mastering
• clobbering
• dynamiting
• whipping
• mangling
• defacing
• prevailing (over)
• routing
• disfiguring
• dissolving
• surmounting
• thrashing
• eradicating
• obliterating
• winning (against)
• gutting
• scouring
• undoing
• plundering
• walloping
• beating
• wearing (away)
• vandalizing
• disassembling
• besting
• slaughtering
• vitiating
• exterminating
• murdering
• triumphing (over)
• sweeping (away)
• despoiling
• trashing
• looting
• expunging
• sacking
• assassinating
• trampling
• trouncing
• liquidating
• extirpating
• pillaging
• executing
• blowing up
• scotching
• effacing
• washing out
• overmatching
• massacring
• wiping out
• overbearing
• drubbing
• taking down
• dispatching
• slaying
• zapping
• butchering
• cutting down
• stamping (out)
• dilapidating
• unmaking
• blotting out
• unbuilding
• rooting (out)
• felling
• skunking
• killing off
• snuffing (out)
• mowing (down)
• taking out
• havocking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• building
• constructing
• repairing
• raising
• erecting
• creating
• fixing
• rearing
• setting up
• producing
• making
• forming
• putting up
• inventing
• shaping
• manufacturing
• assembling
• establishing
• forging
• protecting
• organizing
• fashioning
• framing
• revamping
• preserving
• patching
• saving
• reconditioning
• mending
• molding
• fabricating
• constituting
• instituting
• restoring
• rebuilding
• doctoring
• founding
• conserving
• bringing about
• reconstructing
• remodeling
• fathering
• renovating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wrecking

Noun

At least, there was a lot less wrecking. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026

The Ravens haven’t really had that game-wrecking pass rusher since Terrell Suggs was in his prime. — The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026

In one case, the life of an upper-class woman and contemporary of Julius Caesar, Clodia, saw her reputation destroyed by false claims of harlotry, home-wrecking, and husband-killing. — Time, 24 Nov. 2025

The addresses listed in the wrecking permits border the east of the truck plant where Ford makes its iconic Super Duty trucks, Expedition SUVs and luxury Lincoln Navigators. — Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025

Leaving a dog at home alone can be nerve-wrecking for many owners, but pet-cam footage shows why Larry the greyhound's owner has nothing to worry about. — Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025

The wrecking begins when Carey (Marvin), Paul’s best friend, ill-advisedly sleeps with Julie—and then, more ill-advisedly still, confesses it to Paul the next day. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025

Verb

Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick crossed the line while wrecking after Larson hit the wall trying to chase down Briscoe on the final turn. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Her first job as CEO in 2014 was to remake the century-old company’s corporate culture and regain customers’ trust following a tragic, reputation-wrecking ignition-switch crisis. — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Here’s how the shift happened, what the ingredient actually does below the neck and how to fold it into a routine without wrecking your skin barrier. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2026

The general public learned of the demolition plan only when the wrecking equipment began work nearly three months later. — Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2026

Martin insisted that it could be done without schmaltz, but the singer was wary of wrecking their reputation with classical pretensions. — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026

An eight-game lead with 25 games left is a virtual lock for Brewers manager Pat Murphy and his wrecking crew, as even optimistic Cubs fans understand. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

The previous record-strong El Niño in modern times, in 1982-83, coincided with significant damage across the coastline, wrecking the piers in Santa Monica and Seal Beach. — Robert Gauthier, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026

Come for the timeliness, stay for Cap wrecking a bunch of guys in an elevator. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 Aug. 2026