destroyer

noun

de·stroy·er di-ˈstrȯi(-ə)r

dē-

Synonyms of destroyer next

: one that destroys

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

Example Sentences

The pamphlet describes alcohol as a destroyer of families.

Recent Examples on the Web In 2021, Russian warplanes buzzed the USS Donald Cook, a Navy destroyer, which had been taking part in a major exercise. —

Lolita C. Baldor And Tara Copp, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Mar. 2023 Another image shows Roosevelt speaking from a Navy destroyer on Aug. 12, 1944. —

Edward Rothstein, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 When the next major storm comes—next year, next decade or next century—the river will again become a destroyer. —

Jeremy Miller, WIRED, 18 Feb. 2023 Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced on Wednesday that a new destroyer will be named after Kelley, who lived in Dorchester and West Roxbury before spending 30 years in the service. —

Nick Stoico, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Jan. 2023 Ministry officials said fighter jets and helicopters were engaging in takeoff and landing exercises on the Chinese carrier and that Japan responded by scrambling fighter jets and dispatching a destroyer. —

Time, 18 Dec. 2022 A week later, an American destroyer called the U.S.S. Benfold sailed past Mischief Reef without providing identification. —

Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2022 The patrol boat, known as a cutter called Kimball, later discovered there were two other Chinese naval ships and four Russian naval vessels, including a destroyer, all in single formation. —

From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 29 Sep. 2022 After graduating from Tabor Academy in Tabor, Massachusetts, Mr. Edlund earned a bachelor’s degree in 1952 in mechanical engineering from Cornell University and served from 1952 to 1954 aboard a Navy destroyer in Korea. —

Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'destroyer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.