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
Within that timeframe, the destroyer apparently voyaged over the Atlantic Ocean several times, stopping in New York, Key West, Philadelphia and Annapolis in the U.S., as well as Panama and the United Kingdom.
—
Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2024
American and Israeli officials spent the past few days coordinating military operations in case Iran did act, and Mr. Biden ordered aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
There are more than 5,000 sailors on the Eisenhower, the flagship of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, which also includes a cruiser — the USS Philippine Sea — and two destroyers —the USS Mason and the USS Gravely.
—NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
Mixing between the ecology and history of these islands, this is lovingly reported, and—for once—humans are portrayed as protectors rather than destroyers.
—Carolyn Wells, Longreads, 28 Mar. 2024
The destroyer sank in just eight minutes, and 64 American sailors died in the attack.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Feb. 2024
The operation involved a navy destroyer, a patrol ship, an Indian Air Force C-17 transporter flying more than 1,500 miles to airdrop marine commandos, a naval drone, a reconnaissance drone and a P-8 surveillance jet, the release said.
—Brad Lendon, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
The Navy installed a 60-kilowatt laser weapon on the destroyer the USS Preble in August 2022.
—Iain Boyd, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024
In 2017, a pair of Navy destroyers, the USS McCain and the USS Fitzgerald, collided with civilian ships in the Pacific in separate incidents, killing 17 sailors.
—Gil Barndollar, TIME, 12 Feb. 2024
Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2024
American and Israeli officials spent the past few days coordinating military operations in case Iran did act, and Mr. Biden ordered aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region.
—Peter Baker, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
There are more than 5,000 sailors on the Eisenhower, the flagship of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, which also includes a cruiser — the USS Philippine Sea — and two destroyers —the USS Mason and the USS Gravely.
—NBC News, 2 Apr. 2024
Mixing between the ecology and history of these islands, this is lovingly reported, and—for once—humans are portrayed as protectors rather than destroyers.
—Carolyn Wells, Longreads, 28 Mar. 2024
The destroyer sank in just eight minutes, and 64 American sailors died in the attack.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Feb. 2024
The operation involved a navy destroyer, a patrol ship, an Indian Air Force C-17 transporter flying more than 1,500 miles to airdrop marine commandos, a naval drone, a reconnaissance drone and a P-8 surveillance jet, the release said.
—Brad Lendon, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
The Navy installed a 60-kilowatt laser weapon on the destroyer the USS Preble in August 2022.
—Iain Boyd, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024
In 2017, a pair of Navy destroyers, the USS McCain and the USS Fitzgerald, collided with civilian ships in the Pacific in separate incidents, killing 17 sailors.
—Gil Barndollar, TIME, 12 Feb. 2024
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.
Dictionary Entries Near destroyer
Cite this Entry
“Destroyer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destroyer. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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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