wreaked

Wreaked is the past tense and past participle of the verb wreak. In modern English, to wreak means to cause something harmful or unwanted to happen, or to inflict damage, harm, punishment, or destruction on someone or something. It is almost always transitive and is typically used with a direct object that denotes harm, with common collocations such as wreak havoc, wreak destruction, wreak damage, or wreak vengeance.

The verb traces its origins to Old English wrecan, meaning to drive, thrust, or punish, with the sense of inflicting harm developing in Middle English. Over time, the form and usage evolved into the present sense of causing injury or trouble to others. The spelling and pronunciation have remained relatively stable, though some modern writers confuse wreak with the phonetically similar wreck.

Usage notes emphasize that wreak is used with a direct object naming the harm or punishment inflicted. It is not used intransitively on its own. Common phrases include wreak havoc on or upon, wreak destruction, wreak damage, and wreak vengeance. The choice of preposition can vary by expression, with on/upon both appearing in standard usage.

Examples:

- The earthquake wreaked havoc across the region.

- The regime vowed to wreak vengeance on its opponents.

- The floodwaters wreaked destruction in several towns.