destruction

noun

de·​struc·​tion di-ˈstrək-shən 

1

: the state or fact of being destroyed : ruin

scenes of death and destruction

the destruction of their careers

2

: the action or process of destroying something

the destruction of the building

3

: a destroying agency

Alcohol will be his destruction.

Synonyms of destruction

• devastation
• havoc
• demolition
• extinction
• loss
• extermination

Examples of destruction in a Sentence

War results in death and widespread destruction.

We are trying to save the building from destruction.

Recent Examples on the Web

Jordan Glass captured the destruction from a distance before posting the clips to his Instagram account. — Erika Angulo, NBC news, 11 Oct. 2026

No deaths or missing persons had been reported, although authorities warned that the full extent of the destruction remained uncertain, particularly in communities cut off by damaged roads, collapsed bridges and landslides. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026

In the heady satire about elites causing worldwide climate destruction, Cruise plays the titular Digger Rockwell, an out-of-touch oil tycoon. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026

Against monarch-butterfly migrations and environmental destruction, the family’s struggle becomes a story of displacement, resilience and fragile belonging. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English destruccioun, from Anglo-French destruction, from Latin destruction-, destructio, from destruere — see destroy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing destruction

• seed/seeds of one's own destruction
• self-destruction
• weapon of mass destruction
• weapons of mass destruction

Rhymes for destruction

• abduction
• adduction
• conduction
• construction
• deduction
• eduction
• induction
• instruction
• obstruction
• production
• reduction
• seduction

Kids Definition

destruction

noun

de·​struc·​tion di-ˈstrək-shən 

1

: the state or fact of being destroyed : ruin

2

: the action or process of destroying something