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'Wreak' means to cause or inflict something destructive; 'reek' means to smell strongly and unpleasantly.
Side-by-side comparison
"Wreak" is to cause something destructive or damaging. It almost always appears in the phrase "wreak havoc" = to cause chaos or serious destruction. Rarely used outside that fixed phrase.
The cyberattack wreaked havoc on the company infrastructure.
The storm wreaked destruction across the coastal region.
Poor planning can wreak long-term damage on a project.
"Reek" is to smell strongly and unpleasantly. "This reeks of fish" = it has a strong, fishy odour. As a noun: "the reek of cigarettes" = the powerful, unpleasant smell of smoke.
The storage room reeked of damp and mildew.
His breath reeked of garlic after the dinner.
The whole deal reeks of corruption.
Common mistake
- •Most common error: "wreck havoc" instead of "wreak havoc," or "reeked havoc" (correct: wreaked havoc).
- •"Wreak" and "reek" sound similar but mean completely different things.
Trick to remember it
- •"Wreak" has a silent W like "wreck", both involve damage and destruction.
- •"Reek" has double E like two nostrils hit by the smell, sniff, sniff.
Quick rule
- •Is it causing damage, chaos, or destruction? "Wreak" (especially "wreak havoc").
- •Is it a strong, unpleasant smell? "Reek."
Did you know?
"Wreak havoc" is so dominant in the use of WREAK that many native speakers know no other context where this word appears. HAVOC comes from the medieval Norman war cry "Havok!", the command to pillage freely after military victory. Shakespeare used it in Julius Caesar: "Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip the dogs of war", one of the most quoted lines in all of English literature. Today WREAK also appears in "wreak vengeance" (carry out revenge) and "wreak destruction," but outside these fixed combinations the word practically does not exist in modern everyday English.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The old bin _____ ed of fish. Nobody wanted to go near it.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The storm _____ ed havoc in the town. Several trees fell and the roof was damaged.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy