destroyer

noun de·stroy·er \ di-ˈstrȯi(-ə)r , dē- \

|Updated on: 24 Jun 2018

Definition of destroyer

1 : one that destroys

2 : a small fast warship used especially to support larger vessels and usually armed with guns, depth charges, torpedoes, and often guided missiles

See destroyer defined for English-language learners

See destroyer defined for kids

Examples of destroyer in a Sentence

The pamphlet describes alcohol as a destroyer of families.

Recent Examples of destroyer from the Web

Key 1: a good Pseudolus, wily slave and emcee, master clown, fine vocalist, fourth-wall-busting happy destroyer, and gifted pratfaller.

— john timpane, Philly.com, "Princeton Festival presents a wild, tuneful, stripped-down 'Forum'," 12 June 2018
He is accused of helping orchestrate an attack in 2000 on a U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Cole, in the harbor of the Yemeni port of Aden, which killed 17 sailors, and an attack on a French oil tanker, the Limburg, in 2002.

— alan cowell and charlie savage, miamiherald, "Lithuania and Romania complicit in CIA prisons, European court says," 1 June 2018
Off the coast of Ireland, the convoy was met by eight British Navy destroyers, which then began their escort en route to Liverpool.

— richard kurin, Smithsonian, "A Hundred-Year-Old Handmade American Flag Flies Home… to Scotland," 30 Apr. 2018
Britain has an air defense destroyer in the same area and more than a dozen fighters armed with a variety of missiles that could be used in an attack.

— stacy meichtry, WSJ, "U.S. Presses Allies to Back a Military Strike on Syria," 10 Apr. 2018
Annette Doyon, the Navy veteran's sister, said the 5.6K course honors the destroyer's designation: DDG-56.

— dennis hohenberger, Courant Community, "Road Race Honors Fallen Sailor," 6 June 2018
Alfredo Sanchez was in charge of the USS McCain when 10 sailors were killed after the destroyer collided with a merchant vessel near Singapore in August 2017.

— jamie crawford, CNN, "Former commander of USS McCain pleads guilty following deadly collision," 25 May 2018
Stoll’s Trigorin is a playful destroyer, and his scenes with the two women are tricky displays of manipulation and self-serving delusion.

— ty burr, BostonGlobe.com, "The Seagull’ has great performances but never takes wing," 23 May 2018
The Quebec native is a midfield destroyer with a robust engine.

— jonathan tannenwald, Philly.com, "As the Union keep losing, Bethlehem Steel again gives hope for the future," 11 May 2018

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

First Known Use of destroyer

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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DESTROYER Defined for English Language Learners

destroyer

noun

Definition of destroyer for English Language Learners

: a small and fast military ship that protects bigger ships
: something that causes the destruction of something

DESTROYER Defined for Kids

destroyer

noun de·stroy·er \ di-ˈstrȯi-ər \

Definition of destroyer for Students

1 : someone or something that ruins or ends something

2 : a small fast warship armed with guns, torpedoes, and sometimes missiles

Learn More about destroyer

See words that rhyme with destroyer Spanish Central: Translation of destroyer Nglish: Translation of destroyer for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of destroyer for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about destroyer

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destroyer

Definition of destroyer

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First Known Use of destroyer

DESTROYER Defined for English Language Learners

destroyer

Definition of destroyer for English Language Learners

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destroyer

Definition of destroyer for Students

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