/ riːk; NAmE / verb
[ vn ] wreak sth (on sb) ( formal ) to do great damage or harm to sb/sth :
Their policies would wreak havoc on the economy.
He swore to wreak vengeance on those who had betrayed him.
—see also wrought
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WORD ORIGIN
Old English wrecan drive (out), avenge , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wreken and German rächen ; compare with wreck , and wretch .