Wrack

/ræk/

Meaning & Definition

noun

Wreckage; the destruction or ruin of something.

After the storm, the beach was littered with the wrack of small boats.

Seaweed or algae washed ashore.

The wrack along the shore was teeming with small crabs and other marine life.

verb

To ruin or destroy; to cause extreme damage or distress.

The earthquake wracked the town, leaving it in chaos.

To cause intense physical or mental pain.

Grief wracked her body, leaving her unable to function.

Middle English wrakken, from Old Norse vrekka meaning to throw or to cast away.

wrack one's brain

To think very hard about something.

wrack and ruin

Complete destruction or disarray.

wracked with pain

Experiencing severe distress or suffering.

wreck

To destroy or severely damage.

rack

To place in a rack or frame.

torment

Severe suffering of body or mind.

To overwhelm someone with responsibilities or stress.

I'm so wracked with work this week, I can't even think straight.

To be in a state of emotional distress.

After the breakup, he was totally wracked.