wreak (verb) - to inflict or cause to happen, usually regarding chaos, harm, or ruin [reek]
wrack means to utterly ruin or wreck; destruction, devastation, or anything washed ashore
wreck means to cause damage, destruction, or ruin; anything severely damaged or in poor working order
BREAKDOWN: The word wreak comes directly from the Old English wrecan meaning to avenge or punish, which in turn derives from the Proto-Germanic wrekanan or wrekaną, meaning to push or pursue (also the source of the words wrack and wreck). All of these words can be traced back to the root URG- meaning to drive or compel in words like urge and urgent.
“Stories are wild creatures... When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they might wreak?” —Patrick Ness
[Our Wednesday Wildcards are fascinating and important words that are not necessarily derived from classical roots.]