wrecking
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the process of destroying or badly damaging something.
n.the action or process of causing a wreck or total destruction.
Simple“The wrecking of the old hotel took several weeks to complete.”
In context“The systematic wrecking of the historic district caused an outcry among local preservationists who had hoped to save the architecture.”
UsageOften used as a gerund to describe the physical process of tearing down structures.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
v.the action of damaging or destroying something right now.
v.the present participle of 'wreck', indicating the ongoing action of destruction or ruin.
Simple“The storm is wrecking the small boats left in the harbour.”
In context“By ignoring the safety warnings, the company is effectively wrecking its own reputation within the industry.”
UsageUsed in continuous tenses to show an ongoing process.
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.the old practice of taking valuable things from ships that crashed near the shore.
n.the act of recovering or plundering valuables from a shipwreck near the coast.
Simple“In the old stories, the villagers survived through wrecking during the winter months.”
In context“The coastal community's history was deeply tied to wrecking, a practice that was eventually suppressed by the introduction of the coastguard.”
UsageUsually refers to historical or illegal activities involving shipwrecks.
Teacher's tipThis sense is archaic; learners should only expect to see it in historical novels or legal history texts.
Synonyms