destroy

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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
2a : to put out of existence : kill destroy an injured horseb : neutralize the moon destroys the light of the starsc : 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

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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

Cyberbullying is the use of technology to harass, manipulate and destroy a child.

— carmen gonzalez caldwell, miamiherald, "Know the signs: Girls at much higher risk for cyberbullying than boys," 19 July 2017
Cariboo Regional District chairman Al Richmond said Monday that teams have gained access to areas where houses and other buildings have been destroyed northwest of 100 Mile House.

— Bloomberg.com, "Wildfires in B.C. Have Forced Nearly 40,000 to Evacuate," 17 July 2017
The third story was destroyed in a fire in the early 20s, and it was replaced with a roof, according to that release.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Havre de Grace Opera House opening week is Aug. 6-13," 17 July 2017
Birch’s pieces join a number of other creations destroyed in the name of selfies.

— madison malone kircher, The Cut, "Woman Destroys $200,000 Worth of Art in Pursuit of a Selfie," 14 July 2017
Opponents have argued that the plan will allow the construction of huge, oversized structures, particularly in the city's downtown corridor, and those buildings will destroy the city's small-town charm.

— barbara henry, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Building group files another lawsuit against Encinitas," 13 July 2017
Steve Schindlbeck confirmed most of the damage was in the 4300 block of Camelot Circle, where 10 mailboxes were found mangled or destroyed.

— bill bird, Naperville Sun, "Second round of mailbox attacks reported on Naperville's southwest side, police say," 13 July 2017
Caesar’s need to destroy the Colonel feels reasonable, rather than like a reflection of his darkest demons.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "War for the Planet of the Apes Is an Epic Slog," 12 July 2017
Wonder Woman has since destroyed expectations, becoming the highest-grossing film worldwide directed by a woman.

— vanityfair.com, "Tom Hanks Probably Regrets Making This Joke About Charlize Theron," 11 July 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

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First Known Use: 13th century

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DESTROY Defined for English Language Learners

destroy

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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