To wreak something means to cause or inflict it, usually something destructive or harmful. When a hurricane wreaks havoc on a coastal town, it causes widespread damage and chaos. When anger wreaks destruction on a friendship, it tears apart something that was once strong.

You'll most often see wreak paired with words like havoc, destruction, or vengeance. A computer virus might wreak havoc on a school's network. An invasive species can wreak destruction on a local ecosystem by crowding out native plants and animals.

The word carries a sense of powerful, often uncontrolled force. A single careless match can wreak devastation across thousands of acres of forest. Bad decisions made in anger can have consequences that last for years.

Be careful: People sometimes confuse wreak with reek (to smell terrible) or wreck (to destroy). While wreak and wreck are related in meaning, you wreak havoc but you wreck a car. Think of it this way: wreaking is the causing, wrecking is the smashing. A tornado wreaks havoc by wrecking buildings.