wrecked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wrecked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has been severely damaged or destroyed, or to express a state of extreme emotional distress or exhaustion. Example: "After the long journey, I felt completely wrecked and needed a day to recover."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Sir Ian Botham, who had presented Kerrigan with his cap before the start of play, even suggested in his commentary for Sky that the 24-year-old had been afflicted by the yips, the condition that has wrecked the careers of several left-arm spinners in the past.

The Guardian - Sport

At no point did we wish to glamorise or promote the drug; it was a given that in these cities countless lives had been wrecked by heroin.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The wrecked spaceships are so perfectly of a piece with Star Wars' vision of a future filled with junk that the Falcon fits in perfectly.

The Guardian - Film

They left a trail of ruined lives, fatherless children and women whose confidence and trust have been wrecked beyond repair.

The Guardian - Opinion

Related: Turkey election 2015: speculation begins over which parties will form majority government – live The election result appears to have wrecked Erdogan's ambition of rewriting the constitution to establish himself as an all-powerful executive president, while the country's large Kurdish minority has been granted its biggest voice ever in national politics.

The Guardian

Harris was joined in the sick bay in the third Test by Steyn, who bowled through the pain of a wrecked hamstring.

The Guardian - Sport

Skating wasn't about learning radical mid-air manoeuvres for me so much as having the freedom to get wrecked and ride the urban spaces – spinning and turning on the banks and slaloming between rows of tin cans on the flat – for a couple of hours in the middle of the night while the rest of London was sleeping.

The Guardian

"Men who begin to fight the Church for the sake of freedom and humanity," GK Chesterton wrote 100 years ago, "end by flinging away freedom and humanity if only they may fight the Church … The secularists have not wrecked divine things; but the secularists have wrecked secular things, if that is any comfort to them".

The Guardian

The fragile Mozambican economy was wrecked.

The Guardian

The boats and nets of fishermen will have been wrecked, the crops and livestock of farmers devastated.

The Economist

Although the G20 was wrecked by Greek drama, Mr Sarkozy was nonetheless portrayed in France as a tireless and authoritative leader.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wrecked" to add impact to descriptions of physical damage. For instance, instead of saying "The car was damaged", stating "The car was wrecked" conveys a greater level of destruction.

Common error

Avoid using "wrecked" in formal reports or academic papers when describing damage or failure. Opt for more precise and professional terms such as "damaged", "destroyed", or "impaired".

Linguistic Context

Wrecked primarily functions as an adjective, describing a state of extreme damage, ruin, or incapacitation, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples such as "the wrecked city" or "a wrecked career". It can also function as the past participle of the verb "wreck".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

31%

Science

31%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wrecked" is a versatile term primarily functioning as an adjective, conveying severe damage, ruin, or extreme exhaustion. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used. While versatile, formal contexts may benefit from more precise alternatives like "destroyed" or "impaired". Usage is prevalent in News & Media, Formal & Business and Science sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obliterated

Signifies complete and utter destruction, often implying the removal of something from existence.

destroyed

Implies complete ruin or demolition, often irreversible and more forceful than "wrecked".

decimated

Implies a significant reduction or destruction, often referring to a large portion of something being destroyed.

devastated

Suggests widespread destruction and emotional impact, often used in the context of natural disasters or significant losses.

ruined

Indicates that something has been damaged to the point of being unusable or worthless, similar to "wrecked" but can apply to abstract concepts.

crippled

Indicates severe damage or impairment, often affecting movement or functionality.

shattered

Emphasizes the breaking or disintegration of something, often used metaphorically to describe emotional or psychological damage.

incapacitated

Refers to being unable to function normally, often due to injury or illness, differing from "wrecked" which implies structural damage.

impaired

Suggests a reduction in functionality or ability, less severe than "wrecked" but indicates a negative impact.

disabled

Indicates a long-term or permanent inability to function normally, focusing on the loss of capability.

FAQs

How can I use "wrecked" in a sentence?

"Wrecked" can describe physical damage (e.g., "The car was wrecked in the accident") or a state of exhaustion (e.g., "I felt wrecked after the marathon"). It can also describe an ambition, a life or a career being completely and irreversibly ruined.

What are some synonyms for "wrecked"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms like "destroyed", "devastated", "ruined", or "shattered".

Is it appropriate to use "wrecked" in formal writing?

While "wrecked" is acceptable in informal contexts, it's best to use more precise language in formal writing. Consider alternatives like "severely damaged" or "incapacitated".

What's the difference between "wrecked" and "damaged"?

"Wrecked" implies a greater degree of destruction or impairment than "damaged". Something that is "wrecked" is typically beyond repair or severely compromised, while something that is "damaged" may still be functional or easily repaired.