DESTROY Synonyms: 203 Similar and Opposite Words

destroy

verb

di-ˈstrȯi

Definition of destroy

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of destroy Some worry that data centers will destroy rural Texas’ low cost of living and sully sunsets and sweeping views that stretch toward the horizon. — Marc Levy, Fortune, 23 July 2026 And for a long time, people thought that the library was destroyed by an act of war, that Julius Caesar burned it. — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026 Because venetoclax can destroy large numbers of leukemia cells very quickly, treatment begins with a low dose that is slowly increased over several weeks. — Julie Scott, Verywell Health, 23 July 2026 Forcing a late-night focus type into an early-bird box destroys their stamina. — Luciana Paulise, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for destroy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroy

Verb

Floyd is no longer attracted to his wife, has trouble connecting with his teen-age stepson, and owes tens of thousands in taxes—a set of stressors that are ruining his health.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026
That would ruin a good thing, apparently, and Foerster credited Puni for not only playing through a knee injury last fall but overcoming early-career growing pains.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 20 July 2026

Definition of ruin

Verb

As part of these clashes, Israel twice launched significant air strikes on Iran—the second time ravaging Iran’s air defenses.

— David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
Although the speech part of her brain was ravaged, the music area remains intact, Kelly told me.

— Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026

Definition of ravage

Verb

Two people were killed and at least five others were injured in a shooting at Seattle Center on Sunday night as the civic center complex hosted a major food festival.

— Dennis Romero, NBC news, 27 July 2026
On Saturday night, Fort Worth police shot and killed another suspect who pulled a gun on officers following a short car chase that ended near the I-35W service road on the city’s far south side, Garcia said.

— Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 July 2026

Definition of kill

Verb

We are devastated to learn of the passing of Kevin Keegan, one of the most iconic, influential and deeply loved figures in our club’s history.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Recently, Rodríguez was photographed in a once-unthinkable meeting with uniformed IDF brass overseeing Israeli rescue efforts in the wake of two powerful earthquakes that have devastated Venezuela’s coastal region.

— Larry Luxner, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026

Definition of devastate

Verb

Symbolism Historically, dragon-slaying stories portrayed the treasure hoard as the ultimate test of a hero’s character.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
Lizzie Borden’s father and stepmother were found slain by 29 (or 30) whacks in Fall River, Massachusetts.

— USA Today, USA Today, 21 July 2026

Definition of slay

Verb

Six years ago, the signing of the Abraham Accords was dismissed by skeptics as a fragile, fair-weather agreement, bound to shatter at the first sign of Middle Eastern turbulence.

— Liron Zaslansky, semafor.com, 22 July 2026
For many Colombians, the attack on Uribe Turbay shattered the belief that the country had largely left behind the era when presidential candidates routinely became targets of political violence.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026

Definition of shatter

Verb

In ‘The Strange Architect,’ VanderMeer explores the legacy of Arthur Bream, a man whose dreams of building a utopian community are wrecked when his daughter goes missing.

— Brent Lang, Variety, 23 July 2026
The brutal heat and intense working conditions inside the kitchen and the front area of the business come after a thief wrecked the rooftop air conditioning unit in search of copper wiring.

— Seamus Bozeman Follow, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of wreck

Browse Nearby Words

de-stressing

destroy

destroyed

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“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroy. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of destroy

verb

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