Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day: "Wreak"

Date: October 25, 2025
Host: Peter Sokolowski (for Merriam-Webster)
Episode Theme: Exploring the meaning, usage, and history of the verb "wreak"

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the etymology, definitions, and usage of the word "wreak," clarifying its meaning and contextual applications. Host Peter Sokolowski discusses its origins, highlights literary examples, and notes its evolution from archaic to present-day usage.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Definition and Modern Usage

• Word: wreak (spelled W-R-E-A-K)
• Part of Speech: Verb
• Primary Meaning: To cause something very harmful or damaging.
• Common Usage: Frequently paired with "havoc," as in "wreak havoc," but also with words like "vengeance" and "destruction."
  • Quote [00:06]: “Reek is a verb. It means to cause something very harmful or damaging. It's often used with, on or upon.” (Peter Sokolowski)

2. Example in Contemporary Writing

• From the Hollywood Reporter:
  • Sample Phrase: “Ours is a geography of cataclysm. Santa Ana’s Wreak their psychic wrath.... The odor of disaster seeps from the street like that sulfurous egg smell of the La Brea Tar Pits.”
  • Significance: Demonstrates vivid, powerful usage in modern journalism.

3. Historical & Literary Context

• Archaic Meaning: Originally synonymous with "avenge."
  • Shakespeare Reference (Titus Andronicus):
    • “We will solicit heaven and move the gods to send down justice for to wreak our wrongs.”
    • Insight: While this sense is now considered archaic, the association with justice, vengeance, and emotional weight lingers in modern usage.
  • Quote [00:34]: “In its early days, the word wreak was synonymous with the word avenge, a meaning exemplified when Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus proclaims, we will solicit heaven and move the gods to send down justice for to wreak our wrongs.” (Peter Sokolowski)

4. Contemporary Guidance & Tone

• Advice to Listeners:
  • Quote [01:17]: "We humbly suggest you avoid wreaking any of that, however, no matter how badly you may crave your just desserts…" (Peter Sokolowski)
  • Tone: Light, gently playful, encouraging thoughtful usage of powerful language.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Definition:
  • "Reek is a verb. It means to cause something very harmful or damaging." [00:07]
• On Historical Usage:
  • "In its early days, the word wreak was synonymous with the word avenge..." [00:34]
• Shakespeare Reference:
  • '"We will solicit heaven and move the gods to send down justice for to wreak our wrongs."' [00:39]
• Closing Playful Advice:
  • "We humbly suggest you avoid wreaking any of that, however, no matter how badly you may crave your just desserts…" [01:17]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:06 — Introduction and spelling/pronunciation
• 00:07 — Definition and typical usage
• 00:16 — Sentence from the Hollywood Reporter
• 00:34 — Historical context and Shakespeare citation
• 01:17 — Playful advice and episode close

Summary

This compact but information-rich episode illuminates the verb "wreak," tracing its journey from meaning "avenge" in Shakespearean drama to its modern associations with "havoc." The host illustrates usage through thoughtful examples and encourages listeners to employ the word’s powerful implications with care. The episode’s warm, engaging tone makes learning both accessible and memorable.