destroyer
noun
de·stroy·er
di-ˈstrȯi(-ə)r 
dē-
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
Examples of destroyer in a Sentence
The pamphlet describes alcohol as a destroyer of families.
Recent Examples on the Web
And the number of destroyers has halved to six while the frigate fleet has been slashed from 60 to just 11.
—
ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
The Type 45 destroyer provides a capable host platform.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Apr. 2026
After minesweepers do their work, destroyers would be sent in to escort oil tankers.
—Tom Bowman, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026
Of the Royal Navy’s six destroyers, four were out of service and under repair at the start of the war.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroyer
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ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
The Type 45 destroyer provides a capable host platform.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Apr. 2026
After minesweepers do their work, destroyers would be sent in to escort oil tankers.
—Tom Bowman, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026
Of the Royal Navy’s six destroyers, four were out of service and under repair at the start of the war.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroyer
Cite this Entry
“Destroyer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destroyer. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
destroyer
noun
de·stroy·er
di-ˈstrȯi(-ə)r
1
: one that destroys
2
: a small fast warship armed with guns, depth charges, torpedoes, and often guided missiles
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