Wreck vs. Destroy — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Wreck and Destroy
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Wreck
The destruction of a ship at sea; a shipwreck
The survivors of the wreck
Destroy
To break apart the structure of, render physically unusable, or cause to cease to exist as a distinguishable physical entity
The fire destroyed the library. The tumor was destroyed with a laser.
Wreck
Something, especially a vehicle or building, that has been badly damaged or destroyed
The wreck of their marriage
The plane was reduced to a smouldering wreck
Destroy
To put an end to; eliminate
“In crowded populations, poverty destroys the possibility of cleanliness” (George Bernard Shaw).
Wreck
A person whose physical or mental health or strength has failed
The scandal left the family emotional wrecks
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Destroy
To render useless or ruin
Felt that an overemphasis on theory had destroyed the study of literature.
Wreck
Cause the destruction of (a ship) by sinking or breaking up
He was drowned when his ship was wrecked
Destroy
To put to death; kill
Destroy a rabid dog.
Wreck
Destroy or severely damage (a structure, vehicle, or similar)
The blast wrecked 100 houses
Destroy
To subdue or defeat completely; crush
The rebel forces were destroyed in battle.
Wreck
Engage in breaking up badly damaged vehicles or demolishing old buildings to obtain usable spares or scrap.
Destroy
To cause emotional trauma to; devastate
The divorce destroyed him.
Wreck
The act of destroying or the state of being destroyed; destruction
"The filmmaker ... was hardly the first person to blame misguided agriculture for the wreck of the plains" (Timothy Egan).
Destroy
To be destructive; cause destruction
“Too much money destroys as surely as too little” (John Simon).
Wreck
Accidental destruction of a ship; a shipwreck.
Destroy
(ambitransitive) To damage beyond use or repair.
The earthquake destroyed several apartment complexes.
Hooligans destroy unprovoked.
Wreck
The stranded hulk of a severely damaged ship.
Destroy
(transitive) To neutralize, undo a property or condition.
Smoking destroys the natural subtlety of the palate.
Wreck
Fragments of a ship or its cargo cast ashore by the sea after a shipwreck; wreckage.
Destroy
(transitive) To put down or euthanize.
Destroying a rabid dog is required by law.
Wreck
An automobile or railroad collision or accident
Witnessed a wreck on the highway.
Destroy
(transitive) To severely disrupt the well-being of (a person); ruin.
Her divorce destroyed her; she had a nervous breakdown and was severely depressed for more than a year.
Wreck
The remains of something that has been wrecked, especially an automobile that has crashed
Walked away unharmed from the wreck.
Destroy
To defeat soundly.
Wreck
Something that is dilapidated or worn out
Still driving that wreck of a car.
Living in a wreck of a house.
Destroy
To remove data.
The memory leak happened because we forgot to destroy the temporary lists.
Wreck
A person who is physically or mentally worn out.
Destroy
To sing a song poorly.
Wreck
To cause the destruction of in a collision
Wrecked the car by hitting a tree.
Destroy
To exhaust duly and thus recreate or build up.
This exercise is going to destroy all parts of your shoulders.
Wreck
To dismantle or raze; tear down.
Destroy
To penetrate sexually in an aggressive way.
She got destroyed by her lover on the carpet.
Wreck
To cause to undergo ruin or disaster
An argument that wrecked their friendship. See Usage Note at wreak.
Destroy
To unbuild; to pull or tear down; to separate virulently into its constituent parts; to break up the structure and organic existence of; to demolish.
But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves.
Wreck
To suffer destruction or ruin; become wrecked
A ship that wrecked on the rocks.
Destroy
To ruin; to bring to naught; to put an end to; to annihilate; to consume.
I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation.
Wreck
(Informal) To experience or cause an accident in which the vehicle one is riding in is badly damaged
They were speeding over 70 miles an hour when they wrecked.
Destroy
To put an end to the existence, prosperity, or beauty of; to kill.
If him by force he can destroy, or, worse,By some false guile pervert.
Wreck
To work as a wrecker.
Destroy
Do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of;
The fire destroyed the house
Wreck
Something or someone that has been ruined.
He was an emotional wreck after the death of his wife.
Destroy
Destroy completely; damage irreparably;
You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!
The tears ruined her make-up
Wreck
The remains of something that has been severely damaged or worn down.
Destroy
Defeat soundly;
The home team demolished the visitors
Wreck
An event in which something is damaged through collision.
Destroy
As of animals;
The customs agents destroyed the dog that was found to be rabid
Wreck
A shipwreck: an event in which a ship is heavily damaged or destroyed.
Wreck
Goods, etc. cast ashore by the sea after a shipwreck.
Wreck
(ornithology) A large number of birds that have been brought to the ground, injured or dead, by extremely adverse weather.
Wreck
(transitive) To destroy violently; to cause severe damage to something, to a point where it no longer works, or is useless.
He wrecked the car in a collision.
That adulterous hussy wrecked my marriage!
Wreck
(transitive) To ruin or dilapidate.
Wreck
To dismantle wrecked vehicles or other objects, to reclaim any useful parts.
Wreck
(transitive) To involve in a wreck; hence, to cause to suffer ruin; to balk of success, and bring disaster on.
Wreck
(intransitive) To be involved in a wreck; to be damaged or destroyed.
Wreck
See 2d & 3d Wreak.
Wreck
To destroy, disable, or seriously damage, as a vessel, by driving it against the shore or on rocks, by causing it to become unseaworthy, to founder, or the like; to shipwreck.
Supposing that they saw the king's ship wrecked.
Wreck
To bring wreck or ruin upon by any kind of violence; to destroy, as a railroad train.
Wreck
To involve in a wreck; hence, to cause to suffer ruin; to balk of success, and bring disaster on.
Weak and envied, if they should conspire,They wreck themselves.
Wreck
To suffer wreck or ruin.
Wreck
To work upon a wreck, as in saving property or lives, or in plundering.
Wreck
The destruction or injury of a vessel by being cast on shore, or on rocks, or by being disabled or sunk by the force of winds or waves; shipwreck.
Hard and obstinateAs is a rock amidst the raging floods,'Gainst which a ship, of succor desolate,Doth suffer wreck, both of herself and goods.
Wreck
Destruction or injury of anything, especially by violence; ruin; as, the wreck of a railroad train.
The wreck of matter and the crush of worlds.
Its intellectual life was thus able to go on amidst the wreck of its political life.
Wreck
The ruins of a ship stranded; a ship dashed against rocks or land, and broken, or otherwise rendered useless, by violence and fracture; as, they burned the wreck.
Wreck
The remain of anything ruined or fatally injured.
To the fair haven of my native home,The wreck of what I was, fatigued I come.
Wreck
Goods, etc., which, after a shipwreck, are cast upon the land by the sea.
Wreck
Something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation;
The house was a wreck when they bought it
Thanks to that quack I am a human wreck
Wreck
An accident that destroys a ship at sea
Wreck
A serious accident (usually involving one or more vehicles);
They are still investigating the crash of the TWA plane
Wreck
A ship that has been destroyed at sea
Wreck
Smash or break forcefully;
The kid busted up the car
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