wreckage

noun

wreck·​age ˈre-kij How to pronounce wreckage (audio)
Synonyms of wreckagenext
1
: the act of wrecking : the state of being wrecked
2
a
: something that has been wrecked
b
: broken and disordered parts or material from something wrecked

Synonyms of wreckage

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Examples of wreckage in a Sentence

Workers sifted through the wreckage of the building, searching for bodies. They cleared the wreckage from the track.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The search has also been complicated by the location of the wreckage, which lies in water more than 1,600 feet deep. — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2026 Southbound lanes of Interstate 65 near Lebanon Junction in Bullitt County remain closed while officials work to clear wreckage from the roadway. — Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Aug. 2026 The minibus taxi burst into flames and was reduced to a shell following the collision, according to local media, which published pictures of the wreckage. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 Painstaking analysis of 319 tons of wreckage and thousands of pieces of evidence from a crime scene covering 845 square miles, along with thousands of interviews in 16 countries, eventually led investigators to two Libyan intelligence operatives. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wreckage

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wreckage was in 1837

Browse Nearby Words

wreck
wreckage
wrecker
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wreckage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wreckage. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wreckage

noun
wreck·​age ˈrek-ij How to pronounce wreckage (audio)
1
a
: the act of wrecking
b
: the state of being wrecked
2
: the remains of a wreck
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