Reek vs. Wreak — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Reek and Wreak
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Compare with Definitions
Reek
Smell strongly and unpleasantly; stink
The yard reeked of wet straw and horse manure
Wreak
Cause (a large amount of damage or harm)
The environmental damage wreaked by ninety years of phosphate mining
Torrential rainstorms wreaked havoc yesterday
Reek
A foul smell
The reek of cattle dung
Wreak
To bring about (damage or destruction, for example)
Wreak havoc.
Reek
Smoke
He recovered himself and turned to peer through the reek
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Wreak
To inflict (vengeance or punishment) upon a person.
Reek
To give off a strong unpleasant odor
"Grandma, who reeks of face powder and lilac water" (Garrison Keillor).
Wreak
To give vent to or act upon (one's feelings)
"He sought for some excuse to wreak his hatred upon Tarzan" (Edgar Rice Burroughs).
Reek
To be pervaded by something unpleasant
"This document ... reeks of self-pity and self-deception" (Christopher Hitchens).
Wreak
(Archaic) To take vengeance for; avenge.
Reek
Chiefly British To smoke, steam, or fume.
Wreak
(transitive) To cause harm; to afflict; to inflict; to harm or injure; to let out harm.
The earthquake wreaked havoc in the city.
She wreaked her anger on his car.
Reek
A strong offensive odor; a stench.
Wreak
(transitive) To chasten, or chastise/chastize, or castigate, or punish, or smite.
The police abused their authority to wreak an innocent.
The criminal has been wreaked by the Judge to spend a year in prison.
Reek
Chiefly British Smoke or vapor.
Wreak
(archaic) To inflict or take vengeance on.
Reek
A strong unpleasant smell.
Wreak
(archaic) To take vengeance for.
Reek
(Scotland) Vapour; steam; smoke; fume.
Wreak
(intransitive) reek
Reek
(Ireland) A hill; a mountain.
Wreak
Revenge; vengeance; furious passion; resentment.
Reek
(intransitive) To have or give off a strong, unpleasant smell.
You reek of perfume.
Your fridge reeks of egg.
Wreak
Punishment; retribution; payback.
Reek
To be evidently associated with something unpleasant.
The boss appointing his nephew as a director reeks of nepotism.
Wreak
To reck; to care.
Reek
To be emitted or exhaled, emanate, as of vapour or perfume.
Wreak
To revenge; to avenge.
He should wreake him on his foes.
Another's wrongs to wreak upon thyself.
Come wreak his loss, whom bootless ye complain.
Reek
To emit smoke or vapour; to steam.
Wreak
To execute in vengeance or passion; to inflict; to hurl or drive; as, to wreak vengeance on an enemy.
On me let Death wreak all his rage.
Now was the time to be avenged on his old enemy, to wreak a grudge of seventeen years.
But gather all thy powers,And wreak them on the verse that thou dost weave.
Reek
A rick.
Wreak
Revenge; vengeance; furious passion; resentment.
Reek
Vapor; steam; smoke; fume.
As hateful to me as the reek of a limekiln.
Wreak
Cause to happen or to occur as a consequence;
I cannot work a miracle
Wreak havoc
Bring comments
Play a joke
The rain brought relief to the drought-stricken area
Reek
To emit vapor, usually that which is warm and moist; to be full of fumes; to steam; to smoke; to exhale.
Few chimneys reeking you shall espy.
I found me laidIn balmy sweat, which with his beams the sunSoon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed.
The coffee rooms reeked with tobacco.
Reek
A distinctive odor that is offensively unpleasant
Reek
Have an element suggestive (of something);
His speeches smacked of racism
Reek
Smell badly and offensively;
The building reeks of smoke
Reek
Be wet with sweat or blood, as of one's face
Reek
Give off smoke, fumes, warm vapour, steam, etc.;
Marshes reeking in the sun
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