as in ruined
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1
as in demolished
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
they practically destroyed the safe in order to get at the money inside their poor scores on the final exam destroyed any chance they might have had to pass the course
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2
as in ravaged
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
wildfires destroyed thousands of acres in forests across the state
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3
as in killed
to deprive of life
regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse
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Recent Examples of destroyed
S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
The diplomat also said that the IDF’s targeting of bridges along Lebanon’s Litani River has destroyed vital infrastructure connecting the south to the rest of the country.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
The United States military has struck more than 11,000 targets and destroyed more than 150 Iranian naval vessels, leading to their missile attacks and drone attacks decreasing by 90%.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
That was one week after the war began, when only 3,000 targets were destroyed, and markets took Trump at his word, causing the price of oil to drop a whopping $13, all the way down to $91.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
Reviewing the Pentagon’s video, Miguel said the footage showed buildings on his property being destroyed.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Despite his love for the F-14, Carroll acknowledges that if the Israeli strikes have destroyed them, the loss is largely symbolic.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 24 Mar. 2026
Standing behind a lectern in court, Mack Mercado recounted how his life has been destroyed in the two years since his partner Suleyca Rodriguez — the mother of his 6-year-old daughter — was killed by a drunk driver.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Last June, an early morning fire destroyed the first floor of Evangeline’s, Chaussé previously told The Sacramento Bee.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
First Baptist Dallas will break ground on its new sanctuary on Sunday, June 7, after a massive fire destroyed the church's 134-year-old sanctuary in the summer of 2024, the church announced on Sunday.
—S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
The diplomat also said that the IDF’s targeting of bridges along Lebanon’s Litani River has destroyed vital infrastructure connecting the south to the rest of the country.
—Max Saltman, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
The United States military has struck more than 11,000 targets and destroyed more than 150 Iranian naval vessels, leading to their missile attacks and drone attacks decreasing by 90%.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
That was one week after the war began, when only 3,000 targets were destroyed, and markets took Trump at his word, causing the price of oil to drop a whopping $13, all the way down to $91.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
Reviewing the Pentagon’s video, Miguel said the footage showed buildings on his property being destroyed.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Despite his love for the F-14, Carroll acknowledges that if the Israeli strikes have destroyed them, the loss is largely symbolic.
—Scott Neuman, NPR, 24 Mar. 2026
Standing behind a lectern in court, Mack Mercado recounted how his life has been destroyed in the two years since his partner Suleyca Rodriguez — the mother of his 6-year-old daughter — was killed by a drunk driver.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
Last June, an early morning fire destroyed the first floor of Evangeline’s, Chaussé previously told The Sacramento Bee.
—Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroyed
Adjective
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His choices allow the viewer to drink in the intimate details of the ruined world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
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It was demolished to make way for a 7,000 square-foot gallery that opened in April 2022 at MCASD.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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The building appears to have been demolished with twisted metal, bricks and other debris littering the site.—
Moriah Thomas,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Resident Dave Levy said his basement continues to be ravaged by floods on and off over the past five years.—
Dave Savini,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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One person died after a fire ravaged a Harlem apartment building on Sunday, according to the FDNY.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors argue that Duckett was a monster in disguise who abused the badge and brutally raped and killed Teresa before dumping her body in a lake.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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Tariq’s father, Azim Khamisa, a businessman, forgave the young man who killed his son and has spent his life working to prevent youth violence.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In San Francisco, the wrecked husk of the Golden Gate Bridge looms in the background as a perpetual reminder that this isn’t quite our history.—
Zaki Hasan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
24 Feb. 2026
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Helicopter footage showed the man darting out from the wrecked Charger in a black T-shirt and white shorts.—
Jacob Beltran,
San Antonio Express-News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Front Range shattered it by 22,913 patrons.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
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The next day, an explosion shattered the glass-and-marble lobby of the Bank of America building in New York.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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President Harry Truman signed the Marshall Plan on April 3, 1948, a American initiative to help nations devastated by World World II rebuild.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
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Look, if this had happened in my third season playing this character, I’d be devastated.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Keep damaged plants moist and apply fertilizer as growth resumes.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Mar. 2026
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Tehran province, with more than 50 damaged sites, topped the list in terms of losses, Seyyed Ahmad Alavi said in a message on Telegram.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destroyed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroyed. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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