A wreck is something that has been badly damaged or destroyed, often beyond repair. When a ship crashes into rocks and sinks, it becomes a wreck on the ocean floor. When two cars collide violently, people say there was a car wreck. The twisted metal and shattered glass show what violent force can do.

The word also means to damage or destroy something. A tornado can wreck entire neighborhoods, tearing houses from their foundations. An angry child might wreck their bedroom in a tantrum, throwing books and knocking over furniture. If you stay up too late playing video games, you might wreck your chances of doing well on tomorrow's test.

When someone says they feel like a wreck, they mean they're exhausted, sick, or emotionally drained. After running a marathon, an athlete might collapse and say, “I'm a total wreck.” After a week of final exams, students sometimes feel completely wrecked.

People also use wreck to describe someone who's extremely nervous or upset. Before giving a speech in front of the whole school, you might be a nervous wreck, with shaky hands and a racing heart. The word captures that feeling of being broken apart by stress or exhaustion.