wreaked
Brought about violently
Wreaked is the past tense of wreak, meaning to cause or inflict damage, destruction, or chaos.
The word appears almost exclusively in the phrase wreaked havoc: The storm wreaked havoc on coastal towns.
Wreak implies unleashing something harmful—vengeance, destruction, damage.
The less common past form wrought persists in wrought havoc, though some consider it incorrect.
Widespread destruction and chaos
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- carnageWidespread violent death
- ruinComplete destruction or collapse
- damageHarm or impairment
demolition · annihilation · obliteration · ravage · catastrophe · calamity · disaster · desolation
Results following an event
- repercussionIndirect result of action
- ramificationSecondary consequence of action
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- effectResult of a cause
impact · outcome · result · toll · damage · cost · backlash · ripple effect
Punishing a wrongdoer
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- reprisalPunitive action in return
vendetta · wrath · fury · punishment · justice · reckoning · nemesis · avenge
havoc
Widespread destruction and chaos
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
- carnageWidespread violent death
- ruinComplete destruction or collapse
damage · demolition · annihilation · obliteration · ravage · catastrophe · calamity · disaster · desolation · mayhem
aftermath
Results following an event
- repercussionIndirect result of action
- ramificationSecondary consequence of action
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
effect · impact · outcome · result · toll · damage · cost · backlash · ripple effect · aftershock
revenge
Punishing a wrongdoer
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
reprisal · vendetta · wrath · fury · punishment · justice · reckoning · nemesis · avenge · vindication
wreakedcontained
Kept within limits
restrained · suppressed · held back · checked · curbed
- wreak havocCause widespread destruction