Wreaked (past tense of wreak) means to inflict or cause something unpleasant or destructive. It signifies bringing about significant damage, harm, or negative consequences, often with a violent or forceful implication. The 'something' can range from physical destruction to emotional distress or societal chaos. It implies an active causation, where the subject is the agent responsible for bringing about the negative outcome, causing it to materialize and become evident. It highlights the impact and the severity of the action performed.
Wreaked meaning with examples
- The hurricane wreaked havoc on the coastal towns, leaving a trail of demolished buildings and displaced residents. The torrential rain and powerful winds wreaked such utter destruction, destroying everything in its path, leaving everyone scrambling for safety. The rescue teams started their work immediately after the winds subsided, but the damage was already done.
- The dictator's policies wreaked economic ruin on the country, causing widespread poverty and unrest. His relentless taxation and disregard for human rights wreaked such suffering that the country was plunged into chaos. The citizens were finally able to overthrow his regime after years of turmoil and misery.
- The hacker's malicious software wreaked significant damage on the company's computer systems, leading to data breaches and financial losses. The intrusion and the malware that they unleashed wreaked so much destruction that the company struggled to recover. The incident necessitated extensive repairs and strengthened security measures to be taken immediately.
- The argument between the siblings wreaked emotional damage that strained their relationship for years. The bitter words, spoken in anger, wreaked such damage, that years went by before they even spoke to each other again. Eventually, the siblings would reconcile but it took a long time for that to occur.
- The unchecked spread of misinformation wreaked havoc on the public's trust in the media. False news articles and malicious rumors that the public devoured, wreaked so much confusion that people started doubting everything they heard or read online. The damage caused would lead to many consequences.