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
In this photo taken from footage released by Russia's Pacific Fleet on August 25, 2025, a United States destroyer appears to monitor a Russian and Chinese joint naval patrol in the Pacific Ocean on an unspecified date in August.
—
Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
As the drills began on Monday, Kim was touring a North Korean naval destroyer, KCNA reported.
—Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2025
The destroyers’ arsenal centers on a 96-cell vertical launch system that can be loaded with a mix of weapons, including Tomahawk cruise missiles for long-range land attacks, standard missiles for air and missile defense, and anti-submarine rockets for undersea warfare.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2025
The Whitney Museum in Manhattan, also perched along the Hudson some 70 miles south, has a 15,500-pound emergency door akin to the ones on US Navy destroyers.
—Chloe Schama, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroyer
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Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
As the drills began on Monday, Kim was touring a North Korean naval destroyer, KCNA reported.
—Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2025
The destroyers’ arsenal centers on a 96-cell vertical launch system that can be loaded with a mix of weapons, including Tomahawk cruise missiles for long-range land attacks, standard missiles for air and missile defense, and anti-submarine rockets for undersea warfare.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 2025
The Whitney Museum in Manhattan, also perched along the Hudson some 70 miles south, has a 15,500-pound emergency door akin to the ones on US Navy destroyers.
—Chloe Schama, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroyer
Cite this Entry
“Destroyer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destroyer. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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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