wrecked
/rekt/ (bre, ipa) · [rˈɛkt] /rekt/ (ame, ipa) · [rˈɛkt] /ˈrek How to pronounce wreck (audio)/ (ame, mw)
wrecked — adjective
- wreckedpositive
- wreckedercomparative
- wreckedestsuperlative
1. damaged so severely that something is broken, smashed, or no longer usable; redu
damaged so severely that something is broken, smashed, or no longer usable; reduced to a ruined state by a violent event or accident.
After the storm, the old fishing boat was left completely wrecked on the rocks.
collocation: completely wrecked (severely damaged)
The front of the car was totally wrecked in the collision with the truck.
collocation: totally wrecked
Rescue workers searched through the wrecked buildings for any survivors.
Nadia's wrecked bicycle lay at the side of the road after the accident.
The playground equipment was wrecked by vandals over the weekend.
- destroyed
broader in meaning; can refer to complete annihilation or metaphorical endings
- ruined
often implies something is no longer functional or valuable rather than physically shattered
- smashed
more informal, often suggests breaking into pieces by impact
- demolished
suggests deliberate or systematic destruction, especially of buildings
文法句型
be + wrecked
wrecked + noun
wrecked + by + noun
用法筆記
This sense describes physical destruction of objects, buildings, vehicles, or equipment. When used as a predicate adjective (after 'be' or 'get'), it emphasises the resulting state rather than the action. Frequently takes 'completely' or 'totally' as intensifiers.
常見錯誤
2. extremely drunk from drinking too much alcohol, to the point where normal moveme
extremely drunk from drinking too much alcohol, to the point where normal movement or thinking is difficult.
After five beers, Reuben was completely wrecked and could barely walk.
collocation: completely wrecked (very drunk)
We had to help Talia get home because she got totally wrecked at the party.
get + wrecked at [event]
A group of wrecked students stumbled out of the bar at closing time.
Cyrus woke up with a terrible headache after getting wrecked at his brother's wedding.
- sober
not affected by alcohol at all
文法句型
be + wrecked
get + wrecked
用法筆記
Highly informal slang; appropriate in casual conversation among friends but not in formal writing, medical contexts, or polite company. Similar to 'wasted' but slightly less strong. Usually implies drinking alcohol, not drug use, though it can extend to intoxication from other substances.
常見錯誤
3. extremely tired or exhausted, usually from hard physical work, lack of sleep, or
extremely tired or exhausted, usually from hard physical work, lack of sleep, or intense mental effort.
After working a double shift, Min was so wrecked she fell asleep on the bus.
informal: exhausted from work
The hikers were completely wrecked after climbing the mountain for eight hours.
collocation: completely wrecked (exhausted)
Kian felt totally wrecked after studying all night for his final exams.
A group of wrecked nurses sat in the break room after the ten-hour surgery.
文法句型
be + wrecked
feel + wrecked
get + wrecked
用法筆記
Always informal. Stronger than 'tired' or 'exhausted' in casual speech; equivalent to 'worn out' or 'dead tired.' Distinguish from sense 2 (drunk) by context — if the cause is physical work, lack of sleep, or study rather than alcohol, the meaning shifts to exhaustion.
常見錯誤
wrecked — noun
1. a ship or boat that has been destroyed or badly damaged, especially one that has
a ship or boat that has been destroyed or badly damaged, especially one that has sunk or been run aground at sea.
Divers explored the wreck of a Spanish galleon that sank in the 1700s.
the wreck of [vessel]
The coast guard marked the position of the wreck on their navigation chart.
After the storm, the crew abandoned the wreck and took to the lifeboats.
Marine biologists studied the coral growing on the wreck of an old fishing trawler.
- shipwreck
emphasises the event or state; can also be a verb
- sunken ship
descriptive phrase; focuses on location underwater
文法句型
the wreck of [ship]
a wreck
用法筆記
This is the original and still most specific sense. Strongly associated with maritime contexts. Often used with 'of' to specify which vessel: 'the wreck of the Titanic.' May be modified by 'sunken' or 'underwater.'
常見錯誤
2. a violent accident in which a vehicle is severely damaged or destroyed, especial
a violent accident in which a vehicle is severely damaged or destroyed, especially a crash involving cars, trains, or other transportation.
Police arrived at the scene of the car wreck on the highway.
car wreck (vehicle accident)
The train wreck blocked the main line for more than twelve hours.
train wreck
Brooke survived the car wreck but suffered serious injuries to her leg.
A witness called emergency services right after the wreck happened.
文法句型
a [adjective] wreck
car/train/plane wreck
用法筆記
Common in American English for any vehicle accident. In British English, 'crash' or 'accident' is more typical for road vehicles; 'wreck' is used mostly for trains. Can also refer metaphorically to a disastrous failure: 'My career was a wreck.'
常見錯誤
3. the broken, scattered remains of something that has been destroyed, such as a bu
the broken, scattered remains of something that has been destroyed, such as a building, vehicle, or structure after a disaster.
The wreck of the old factory stood abandoned for years before it was torn down.
the wreck of [building] (ruins)
After the fire, all that remained was the blackened wreck of the wooden house.
An architect bought the wreck of a historic mansion and spent years restoring it.
The wreck of the helicopter lay scattered across the hillside after the crash.
文法句型
the wreck of [building/vehicle]
a wreck
用法筆記
Focuses on what remains after destruction rather than the event itself. Often interchangeable with 'wreckage' for physical debris, but 'wreck' can also refer to the single main body of a destroyed object while 'wreckage' tends to suggest scattered fragments.
常見錯誤
4. a person who is in a very poor physical or emotional condition, or a thing that
a person who is in a very poor physical or emotional condition, or a thing that is in a badly run-down or neglected state.
After losing his job and his flat, Anya's brother was an absolute wreck.
an absolute wreck (emotional state)
Nora was a nervous wreck before her big performance on stage.
a nervous wreck
The old car was a wreck, but Ritu loved it because it was her first vehicle.
Years of stress turned the once cheerful woman into a complete wreck.
The house was a wreck when they bought it, but they fixed it up beautifully.
- basket case
more extreme slang; suggests total inability to function
- mess
broader; can describe situations, not just people or things
- disaster
emphasises the extreme failure or dysfunction
- rock
informal; someone who is emotionally stable and reliable
- picture of health
someone who looks perfectly healthy and well
文法句型
a [adjective] wreck
a wreck of a [person/thing]
用法筆記
Informal but very common in everyday speech. For people, usually emotional or physical exhaustion from stress, worry, or overwork. Common fixed phrase: 'a nervous wreck.' For things, describes extreme dilapidation or poor condition. 'Wreck of a [noun]' is a common intensifying pattern: 'a wreck of a man.'
常見錯誤
wrecked — verb
- wreckedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- wreckeds3rd person singular
- wreckeding-ing form
- wreckededpast simple
1. to damage or destroy something so severely that it is no longer usable or repair
to damage or destroy something so severely that it is no longer usable or repairable — ranging from smashing a car in a crash or driving a ship ashore in a storm, to ruining a plan or devastating a building.
The hurricane wrecked dozens of houses along the coast last night.
wreck + building (natural disaster)
Vinícius accidentally wrecked his mother's car when he hit a tree.
The company's bad decisions wrecked any chance of future growth.
Heavy rain wrecked our plans for a barbecue in the park.
The ship was wrecked on the rocks during a terrible winter gale.
文法句型
wreck + noun phrase
be/get wrecked by [agent]
用法筆記
Stronger than 'damage' or 'break' — wrecking something means it is essentially ruined beyond practical repair. Covers physical objects (cars, buildings, ships, phones) and abstract things (plans, hopes, careers). The passive form 'be/get wrecked' is very common across all contexts. For ships in particular, passive constructions ('was wrecked on the rocks') are the modern norm; an older intransitive pattern ('the ship wrecked on the shore') is rare and now largely limited to historical or literary writing.