1
as in to ruin
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to ravage
to bring destruction to (something) through violent action
wildfires destroyed thousands of acres in forests across the state
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to kill
to deprive of life
regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destroy
The sugar company pulled out a few years later after freezes and floods destroyed the crops.
—
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
According to federal officials, the tornado uprooted trees, snapped telephone poles and destroyed a barn wall in an area just south of Hull Road between Elwell and Bak roads.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
Both the aircraft that were destroyed were MC-130Js, which are specifically designed for special operations missions.
—Luis Martinez, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
Ukraine responded with quick innovation of its own, including low-cost interceptor drones designed to track and destroy incoming attack drones.
—Serra Yedikardes, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
According to federal officials, the tornado uprooted trees, snapped telephone poles and destroyed a barn wall in an area just south of Hull Road between Elwell and Bak roads.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
Both the aircraft that were destroyed were MC-130Js, which are specifically designed for special operations missions.
—Luis Martinez, ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
Ukraine responded with quick innovation of its own, including low-cost interceptor drones designed to track and destroy incoming attack drones.
—Serra Yedikardes, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroy
Verb
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Talley went long with an 8-iron into a back bunker on the 12th, the hole that ruined Jordan Spieth's chances of a repeat Masters victory in 2016.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
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The multiple mistresses ruined his image; the countless injuries derailed his golf game.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Dallas Stars have added some extra support, as injuries continue to ravage their forward group.—
Lia Assimakopoulos,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Mar. 2026
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Those playoff hopes are gone, with the Panthers all but mathematically eliminated from postseason contention as injuries ravaged their roster and kept them on the outside looking in of the playoff picture all season.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Authorities allege her husband, 40-year-old Stephen Bowen, killed her with a shotgun.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
-
They get captured by Hungarian gangsters and have to fight (and kill) their way out of an inn run by a shady former dance prodigy (Uma Thurman).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The project, which was announced by the White House in July, became a highly controversial undertaking when the East Wing was suddenly demolished to accommodate the 90,000 square foot ballroom.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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The Panorama City facility is set to demolish its main ice rink, leaving athletes who use the center with a smaller, non-regulation rink.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The mother of a 7-month-old girl killed by a stray bullet while sitting in her stroller in Brooklyn is devastated by Wednesday's horrific tragedy.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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On May 18, 1980, the north slope of Mount Saint Helens, a volcanic peak in the Cascades Range, was blasted away in an eruption that killed 57 people and devastated an area of approximately 200 square miles.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The targeting of the three journalists comes two days after the killing of the photojournalist/camera operated Hussain Hamood, and nine days following the killing of Al-Manar head of programming Mohammed Sherri, who was slain in an Israeli strike in central Beirut.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
28 Mar. 2026
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During the national anthem Friday, the Iranian team honored the memory of the slain children by placing small pink and purple school backpacks in front of them.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But customers should not expect earth-shattering menu changes.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Apr. 2026
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World Cup That dream come true feeling Some dreams were shattered last night, other dreams were made.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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One such attack on March 27 wrecked an AWACS at Prince Sultan Air Base in eastern Saudi Arabia.—
Sig Christenson,
San Antonio Express-News,
1 Apr. 2026
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The war goes on, and Iran has shown its ability to hit American targets in the region, as well as to wreck the global economy.—
Steve Chapman,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroy. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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