destroy

verb de·stroy \ di-ˈstrȯi , dē- \

|Updated on: 7 Jul 2018

Examples: destroy in a Sentence

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

So humanity is given a new frontier to war over — and a new frontier to potentially destroy itself over.

— todd vanderwerff, Vox, "The Expanse is an excellent sci-fi space opera. But it’s fundamentally a detective show.," 1 July 2018
The total for the haul, including several shades of Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick ($22) and Urban Decay’s new Beached Eyeshadow Palette, was a paycheck-destroying $13,675.

— macaela mackenzie, Allure, "Beauty Blogger Michaela Podolsky Added Up Exactly How Much Her Beauty Stash Costs," 29 June 2018
Lindsey destroyed two televisions and her phone in a fury before ordering the woman to leave the house — and setting it ablaze.

— jeff weiner, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Gary Wayne Lindsey pledged self-improvement days before killing 4 kids, shooting cop: records," 28 June 2018
Lester Pines, an attorney who represents teachers unions, said Wednesday's decision would hurt unions across the country but would not destroy them.

— patrick marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Supreme Court ruling affects cops and firefighters, but not other Wisconsin public workers," 27 June 2018
Following the instructions in a cookbook can’t shield someone from a body that’s conspiring to destroy them.

— mayukh sen, Bon Appetit, "In Search of Fatima Lakhani, Whose Cookbook Changed the Way My Family Ate," 27 June 2018
Despite not wanting to engage directly in Washington politics, Obama has played a significant behind-the-scenes role in one battle: saving Obamacare from Republicans intent on destroying it.

— gabriel debenedetti, Daily Intelligencer, "Where Is Barack Obama?," 24 June 2018
The next night on Raw, Rousey destroyed Bliss during her championship celebration, and dropped the champ through a table.

— nick schwartz, For The Win, "Ronda Rousey is ready to take over WWE," 19 June 2018
In Revenge, a stranger named Emily Thorne moves into a mansion in the Hamptons to pursue her mission: destroy everyone who wronged her father as a child.

— noelle devoe, Seventeen, "9 Netflix Shows You'll Love if You're Obsessed With "Pretty Little Liars"," 18 June 2018

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

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

destroy Synonyms

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