destroy

verb de·stroy \ di-ˈstrȯi , dē- \

Definition of destroy

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

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

intransitive verb

:to cause ruin or destruction

it is proverbially easier to destroy than to construct
—T. S. Eliot

See destroy defined for English-language learners

See destroy defined for kids

Examples of destroy in a Sentence

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 of destroy from the Web

If all goes well, the neurons will function as replacements for those destroyed in the disease.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Brain cell replacement for Parkinson's boosted by monkey study," 30 Aug. 2017
More than three years after a fire destroyed Jeffrey and Maria Decker’s Indian Hill mansion, the cause is still under investigation.

— kevin grasha, Cincinnati.com, "Indian Hill mansion fire, still a mystery, heads to court with millions on the line," 27 Aug. 2017
Evergreen trees and bushes were destroyed in the arson.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "Naperville News Digest," 25 Aug. 2017
The home as seen today is actually a replica of the original house, which was destroyed in a natural disaster and laid in ruins for some time.

— susan b. barnes, Smithsonian, "Walk in the Footsteps of Alexander Hamilton on This Tiny Caribbean Island," 23 Aug. 2017
The farmers do as little soil digging as possible because traditional tillage destroys the fungal networks and the desirable soil structure.

— adrian higgins, idahostatesman, "The zoo beneath our feet: We’re only beginning to understand soil’s hidden world," 23 Aug. 2017
Leftover pills belong to the family, which has no legal obligation to destroy them or give them up.

— melissa bailey, Kaiser Health News, "Dying At Home In An Opioid Crisis: Hospices Grapple With Stolen Meds," 22 Aug. 2017
That February, a lady posted a picture of a dress that would destroy more friendships than Monopoly, launch a thousand memes, and change science ever after.

— chelsea peng, Marie Claire, "This Linen Dress Has the Internet More Torn Than, Well, *The* Dress," 22 Aug. 2017
Instead, friction from the high-speed atmospheric entry will destroy Cassini.

— ernie mastroianni, Discover Magazine, "Cassini’s Closing Act," 21 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'destroy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of destroy

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

destroy Synonyms

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

Antonyms

build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rear, set up

Related Words

beat, best, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), rout, scotch, skunk, subdue, surmount, thrash, trim, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, win (against); blast, blow up, break, cripple, damage, deface, deteriorate, disfigure, disintegrate, dissolve, dynamite, harm, impair, injure, mangle, mar, mutilate, spoil, vitiate; erode, scour, sweep (away), wash out, wear (away); dilapidate, disassemble, dismantle, gut, take down, unbuild, undo, unmake; blot out, efface, eradicate, expunge, exterminate, extirpate, liquidate, obliterate, remove, root (out), snuff (out), stamp (out), wipe out; despoil, havoc, loot, pillage, plunder, ravage, sack, trample, trash, vandalize; assassinate, butcher, cut down, dispatch, execute, fell, kill, kill off, massacre, mow (down), murder, slaughter, slay, take out, zap

Near Antonyms

doctor, fix, mend, patch, recondition, repair, revamp; create, invent; assemble, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, mold, produce, shape; bring about, constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize; conserve, preserve, protect, save; rebuild, reconstruct, remodel, renovate, restore

DESTROY Defined for English Language Learners

destroy

verb

Definition of destroy for English Language Learners

: to cause (something) to end or no longer exist : to cause the destruction of (something) : to damage (something) so badly that it cannot be repaired
: to kill (an animal) especially because it is sick, injured, or dangerous
: to defeat (someone or something) easily or completely