destroyed; destroying; destroys
1
: to ruin the structure, organic existence, or condition of : damage beyond repair
destroyed the files
Their reputation was destroyed.
A disease that destroys the body's ability to fight off illness.
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
… marines have been trained to close with and destroy the enemy. That's what we do.—
Stephen W. Larose
Stephen W. Larose
d
informal
: to defeat soundly
destroyed the other team 10-1
: to cause ruin or destruction
It is proverbially easier to destroy than to construct …—T. S. Eliot
T. S. EliotExamples 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 on the Web
Thankfully, the Dark Sky movement is growing as more people become aware of the issue and learn about simple and cost-effective ways that can be embraced to reverse the course of destroying our night skies.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
One of only two Level 7 accidents, when a steam explosion destroyed reactor number four at the Ukrainian plant.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Two massive wildfires in south Georgia have scorched more than 38,000 acres and destroyed over 100 homes.
—Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
The bodies of the four were found in the ruins of a house destroyed in the overnight attacks, Dnipropetrovsk regional head Oleksandr Ganzha said.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
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Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
One of only two Level 7 accidents, when a steam explosion destroyed reactor number four at the Ukrainian plant.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
Two massive wildfires in south Georgia have scorched more than 38,000 acres and destroyed over 100 homes.
—Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
The bodies of the four were found in the ruins of a house destroyed in the overnight attacks, Dnipropetrovsk regional head Oleksandr Ganzha said.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destroy. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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