destroy
verb
de·stroy di-ˈstrȯi 
dē-
destroyed; destroying; destroys
transitive verb
1
: to ruin the structure, organic existence, or condition of
destroyed the files
also : to ruin as if by tearing to shreds
their reputation was destroyed
a disease that destroys the body's ability to fight off illness
… destroyed any hope of a return to past crackdowns … 
George Brock
George Brock 2
a
: to put out of existence : kill
destroy an injured horse
b
: neutralize
the moon destroys the light of the stars
c
: annihilate, vanquish
armies had been crippled but not destroyed W. L. Shirer
W. L. Shirerintransitive verb
: to cause ruin or destruction
it is proverbially easier to destroy than to construct T. S. Eliot
T. S. Eliot
Synonyms
- annihilate
- cream
- decimate
- demolish
- desolate
- devastate
- do in
- extinguish
- nuke
- pull down
- pulverize
- raze
- rub out
- ruin
- shatter
- smash
- tear down
- total
- vaporize
- waste
- wrack
- wreck
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Eventually our problems with money destroyed our marriage. All the files were deliberately destroyed. The disease destroys the body's ability to fight off illness. The bomb blast destroyed the village. The dog had to be destroyed since its owner could not prevent it from attacking people.
Recent Examples on the Web According to Citigroup, the U.S. dollar is the only sensible hedge against looming economic headwinds that will destroy riskier assets’ value. Chloe Taylor, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2022 For example, countries with ballistic missiles and missile-defense systems could develop the technology for a missile that could destroy spacecraft. WIRED, 15 Sep. 2022 In York, Cindy Donnell, the wife and mother of four fishermen, said their family and others have been barraged by regulations and attacks on their industry that will eventually destroy it. Max Sullivan, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2022 The film, which examines the effects of Indonesia’s military dictatorship on the country’s youth, follows a young man torn between loyalty and justice who confronts the truth of his father figure — a retired general — that may destroy them both. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Aug. 2022 Recent research shows that climate change and widespread deforestation are pushing the rainforest to a tipping point that could destroy its ability to recover from such damage. New York Times, 2 Aug. 2022 There is nothing that could destroy the societal and personal rulebooks in your life more quickly than being truthful to yourself. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 31 July 2022 Instead, Gorr will discover the sword that can destroy gods. Chris Smith, BGR, 27 June 2022 Under the 1973 law, federal agencies cannot fund, permit or take actions that would destroy or severely damage critical habitats. John Flesher, ajc, 23 June 2022 See More
Chloe Taylor, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2022 For example, countries with ballistic missiles and missile-defense systems could develop the technology for a missile that could destroy spacecraft. WIRED, 15 Sep. 2022 In York, Cindy Donnell, the wife and mother of four fishermen, said their family and others have been barraged by regulations and attacks on their industry that will eventually destroy it. Max Sullivan, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2022 The film, which examines the effects of Indonesia’s military dictatorship on the country’s youth, follows a young man torn between loyalty and justice who confronts the truth of his father figure — a retired general — that may destroy them both. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Aug. 2022 Recent research shows that climate change and widespread deforestation are pushing the rainforest to a tipping point that could destroy its ability to recover from such damage. New York Times, 2 Aug. 2022 There is nothing that could destroy the societal and personal rulebooks in your life more quickly than being truthful to yourself. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 31 July 2022 Instead, Gorr will discover the sword that can destroy gods. Chris Smith, BGR, 27 June 2022 Under the 1973 law, federal agencies cannot fund, permit or take actions that would destroy or severely damage critical habitats. John Flesher, ajc, 23 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French destroy-, destrui-, stem of destrure, from Vulgar Latin *destrugere, alteration of Latin destruere, from de- + struere to build — more at structure
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
destroy
verb
de·stroy di-ˈstrȯi
destroyed; destroying
1
: to put an end to : do away with
destroy a building
destroy a dream
2
: kill entry 1 sense 1
Officials destroyed the diseased animals.
destroying
verb
1
as in ruining
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of they practically destroyed the safe in order to get at the money inside their poor scores on the final exam destroyed any chance they might have had to pass the course Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ruining
- wrecking
- demolishing
- shattering
- smashing
- devastating
- damaging
- wasting
- overcoming
- eroding
- annihilating
- decimating
- extinguishing
- killing
- dismantling
- razing
- pulverizing
- marring
- ravaging
- crippling
- removing
- vaporizing
- crushing
- defeating
- breaking
- blasting
- nuking
- injuring
- totaling
- subduing
- desolating
- wracking
- harming
- creaming
- conquering
- disintegrating
- spoiling
- tearing down
- pulling down
- impairing
- eradicating
- mutilating
- obliterating
- deteriorating
- doing in
- licking
- trimming
- dissolving
- defacing
- mastering
- clobbering
- assassinating
- vandalizing
- slaughtering
- dynamiting
- rubbing out
- totalling
- disfiguring
- undoing
- plundering
- murdering
- surmounting
- gutting
- whipping
- exterminating
- beating
- mangling
- routing
- thrashing
- disassembling
- vitiating
- scouring
- liquidating
- despoiling
- trashing
- looting
- besting
- trouncing
- expunging
- extirpating
- overbearing
- trampling
- massacring
- sacking
- unmaking
- effacing
- pillaging
- executing
- walloping
- slaying
- overmatching
- zapping
- dispatching
- drubbing
- scotching
- blowing up
- butchering
- wiping out
- washing out
- dilapidating
- unbuilding
- taking down
- cutting down
- blotting out
- felling
- triumphing (over)
- prevailing (over)
- killing off
- winning (against)
- skunking
- taking out
- havocking
- sweeping (away)
- wearing (away)
- snuffing (out)
- stamping (out)
- rooting (out)
- mowing (down)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- building
- constructing
- creating
- repairing
- raising
- erecting
- fixing
- producing
- rearing
- making
- forming
- protecting
- establishing
- inventing
- shaping
- assembling
- preserving
- manufacturing
- forging
- mending
- setting up
- saving
- organizing
- revamping
- restoring
- fashioning
- framing
- constituting
- molding
- fabricating
- conserving
- patching
- rebuilding
- reconditioning
- reconstructing
- instituting
- doctoring
- bringing about
- founding
- putting up
- remodeling
- fathering
- renovating
2
as in ravaging
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action wildfires destroyed thousands of acres in forests across the state Synonyms & Similar Words
- ravaging
- devastating
- ruining
- wrecking
- plundering
- obliterating
- eradicating
- shattering
- despoiling
- stripping
- annihilating
- demolishing
- scourging
- decimating
- looting
- pillaging
- extinguishing
- vaporizing
- smashing
- nuking
- sacking
- expunging
- extirpating
- wasting
- marauding
- razing
- overwhelming
- harrying
- desolating
- overthrowing
- wracking
- wiping out
- mowing
- totaling
- overrunning
- overpowering
- foraying
- crushing
- rubbing out
- totalling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- restoring
- recovering
- rehabilitating
- repairing
- fixing
- redeeming
- reconditioning
- mending
- revamping
- patching
3
as in killing
to deprive of life regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse Synonyms & Similar Words
- killing
- slaying
- murdering
- taking
- dispatching
- slaughtering
- claiming
- felling
- assassinating
- annihilating
- carrying off
- neutralizing
- decimating
- wasting
- doing for
- massacring
- croaking
- doing in
- finishing
- snuffing
- whacking
- butchering
- executing
- cutting down
- smiting
- mowing
- offing
- getting
- doing away with
- terminating
- making away with
- martyring
- killing off
- taking out
- rubbing out
- putting away
- knocking off
- scragging
- blotting out
- euthanizing
- icing
- bumping off
- suiciding
- euthanatizing
- putting down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- restoring
- reviving
- raising
- animating
- resurrecting
- nurturing
- resuscitating