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“Reek” or “Wreak”

Overview

reek / wreak are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

reek: (verb) smell badly and offensively. (verb) be wet with sweat or blood, as of one's face. (verb) give off smoke, fumes, warm vapour, steam, etc..

wreak: NA

Pronunciation

reek: r·IY·k

wreak: r·IY·k

Trends

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Examples in Context

Examples of “reek”

Examples of “wreak”

  • breed of toxin" that "could wreak havoc on a town," and
  • as "optimistic" and "out to wreak as much good-natured havoc as
  • body, and is ready to wreak vengeance on the Storybrooke residents,
  • damage they were able to wreak upon the Roma population.
  • the Atlantic Ocean designed to wreak havoc on the Allied shipping
  • the flood plain of the Wreak near Syston.


(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)


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