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
Several irreplaceable bombers were destroyed and several more damaged in the first operation of its kind.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2025
In the far north, Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province regularly swoop into villages in overnight raids, killing, abducting and destroying.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
After its removal, the bomb was taken to an army arms training ground about 110 miles from Belgrade, where it will be destroyed in the coming days.
—CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
The blaze that took their property also destroyed many of their belongings, including Keleigh’s wedding gown.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroy
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Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Dec. 2025
In the far north, Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province regularly swoop into villages in overnight raids, killing, abducting and destroying.
—Paul Tilsley, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
After its removal, the bomb was taken to an army arms training ground about 110 miles from Belgrade, where it will be destroyed in the coming days.
—CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
The blaze that took their property also destroyed many of their belongings, including Keleigh’s wedding gown.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destroy. Accessed 4 Jan. 2026.
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