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
The Ford joins a flotilla of destroyers, war planes and special operations assets that are already in the region.
—
Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 15 Nov. 2025
As the map shows, the vessel is among naval assets in the region such as the destroyers USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, USS Sampson, the cruiser USS Lake Erie and the littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
While crossing the English Channel, Neal looked down and saw a massive, breathtaking armada, thousands of battleships, cruisers and destroyers in the water.
—Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 11 Nov. 2025
The Navy’s futuristic Zumwalt-class destroyers, originally built for shore bombardment and stealth operations, have been reimagined as hypersonic strike platforms.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroyer
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Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 15 Nov. 2025
As the map shows, the vessel is among naval assets in the region such as the destroyers USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham, USS Sampson, the cruiser USS Lake Erie and the littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
While crossing the English Channel, Neal looked down and saw a massive, breathtaking armada, thousands of battleships, cruisers and destroyers in the water.
—Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 11 Nov. 2025
The Navy’s futuristic Zumwalt-class destroyers, originally built for shore bombardment and stealth operations, have been reimagined as hypersonic strike platforms.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 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 22 Nov. 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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