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wreak

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Wreak is to cause or inflict damage, harm or revenge.

(verb)

When you cause significant damage, this is an example of a time when you wreak havoc.

See wreak in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to give vent or free play to (one's anger, malice, rage, etc.)
to inflict (vengeance), cause (harm or havoc), etc.
Archaic to avenge

Origin: ME wreken < OE wrecan, to revenge, punish, akin to Ger rächen, Goth wrikan < IE base *wreg-, to shove, oppress, hunt down, L urgere, to press, urge

Related Forms:

wreaker noun

See wreak in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb wreaked, wreak·ing, wreaks

To inflict (vengeance or punishment) upon a person.
To express or gratify (anger, malevolence, or resentment); vent.
To bring about; cause: wreak havoc.
Archaic To take vengeance for; avenge.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English wreken

Origin: , from Old English wrecan

Usage Note: Wreak is sometimes confused with wreck, perhaps because the wreaking of damage may leave a wreck: The storm wreaked (not wrecked ) havoc along the coast. The past tense and past participle of wreak is wreaked, not wrought, which is an alternative past tense and past participle of work.

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