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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destroy
The disaster killed at least 14 people and destroyed nearby businesses and buildings.
—
Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
But the construction will cut off access to a recreational area for months while destroying century-old trees and disrupting wildlife, according to the lawsuit stemming from Sacramento residents with the nonprofits Save the American River Association and American River Trees.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Entire towns have been emptied, families torn apart and generations destroyed.
—NPR, 8 Nov. 2025
And this one man destroyed everything.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
But the construction will cut off access to a recreational area for months while destroying century-old trees and disrupting wildlife, according to the lawsuit stemming from Sacramento residents with the nonprofits Save the American River Association and American River Trees.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Entire towns have been emptied, families torn apart and generations destroyed.
—NPR, 8 Nov. 2025
And this one man destroyed everything.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroy
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
11 Nov. 2025
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So, no, women didn’t ruin the workplace.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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For the second year in a row, San Francisco has been ravaged by injuries to key players, especially on the defensive side of the football.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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The avalanche ravaged the base camp, which is located at an altitude of 4,900 meters, or 16,070 feet.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Most of the strikes occur in the summer, killing 20 people each year, according to the NWS.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
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Four people were killed over a four-day period in crashes on Arkansas highways, according to preliminary Arkansas State Police reports.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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During the closure, crews will demolish the Lister Avenue Bridge and the pedestrian bridge at Oakley Avenue over I-70.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
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The military showed us a map of Hamas tunnel routes Israeli forces are still discovering and demolishing in the area.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Last year’s devastating drought in the Amazon Basin was made 30 times more likely by climate change, according to a report from World Weather Attribution, a network of scientists that analyze extreme weather events.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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Earlier this year, California’s devastating Eaton Fire destroyed much of Altadena, a diverse, creative community just north of Pasadena.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But Kwei, in the first display of mercy or kindness that Dek has ever seen, refuses to slay his own brother.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
4 Nov. 2025
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Desperate to prove his mettle, Dek seeks out a terrifying creature of Yautja lore, determined to be the first of his kind to slay it.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Mamdani’s victory places him at the forefront of a global cohort of diaspora leaders who have shattered political ceilings in recent years.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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At Tesla’s annual meeting on Thursday, shareholders voted in favor of giving CEO Musk a gargantuan, record-shattering pay package that could give him stock worth $1 trillion after several years.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Guardiola’s lads look back to their best in the early months of this season after the extended wobble in the previous one that wrecked their hopes of a fifth straight domestic title.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
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Phillips croons about a mother’s bond with her child as Swinton walks off, her character freshly wrecked by a visit with her son in prison.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroy. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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