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
If trillion-dollar bonds are required to contest trillion-dollar damages our government is causing, that destroys the protections our Constitution provides its citizens against the rule of tyrants.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2025
People are worried if there is a major war, adversaries could shoot down our satellites and destroy our GPS systems and mobile communications.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025
While most of the impacts shattered the outer lens, internal components that were destroyed in Read's vehicle remained intact in multiple test taillights.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2025
The second destroyed the house and his car and killed his three dogs, according to social media posts from Joss and his partner.
—Amanda Jackson, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2025
People are worried if there is a major war, adversaries could shoot down our satellites and destroy our GPS systems and mobile communications.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 June 2025
While most of the impacts shattered the outer lens, internal components that were destroyed in Read's vehicle remained intact in multiple test taillights.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2025
The second destroyed the house and his car and killed his three dogs, according to social media posts from Joss and his partner.
—Amanda Jackson, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroy
Verb
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The situation took a turn when Amy accidentally ruined her earbuds in the wash.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
3 June 2025
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But Foxx lamented how the producer ruined his legacy after being arrested in Manhattan last September following a grand jury indictment.—
Mekishana Pierre Published,
EW.com,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Fraser delivers a brimstone sermon worthy of a Baptist preacher at a tent revival, raging at plutocrats who ravage those with less (or nothing at all).—
Hamilton Cain,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
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Injuries have ravaged Houston’s starting rotation to an almost unrecognizable state.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Verb
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The California Department of Justice will investigate a fatal shooting by Los Angeles Police Department officers under a law that empowers the state attorney general to probe police shootings of unarmed people — despite the LAPD saying the man killed Tuesday was holding a gun.—
Matthew Ormseth,
Los Angeles Times,
6 June 2025
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The two teens were the third and fourth adolescents under 14 to be arrested in the Bronx for killing a bystander with a stray bullet to the head within six weeks.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2025
Verb
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In 2012, Texas Wesleyan went to the city’s historic and cultural landmarks commission seeking permission to demolish the home for further campus expansion, but were denied.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 June 2025
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Goldschmidt has demolished the NL Central in his career, with a slash line of .291/.388/.527 in almost 550 games played.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
Verb
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While Michael has not addressed these allegations, we are devastated by even the implications.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
6 June 2025
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The group warns that the ban on hemp products with THC would devastate legal businesses and drive demand toward the unregulated black market.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Verb
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Men and boys have been targeted and slain on ethnic grounds.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
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He was booked into Metro Jail the night of June 1. 'Saddened and heartbroken': Attack rocks Boulder days after Israeli staffers slain Questions surround security protocols at the event The Saenger Theatre did not immediately respond to requests for comment on June 2.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
2 June 2025
Verb
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Whatever credibility the report might have had as a product of a federal agency was shattered by its obvious errors, misrepresentations and outright fabrications of source materials, some of it plainly the product of the authors’ reliance on AI bots.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2025
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That puts them on pace to win just 25 games in 2025, which would shatter the record set by the White Sox.—
Kendall Capps,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 June 2025
Verb
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During testimony, Lance Jimenez of the Los Angeles Fire Department recalled a 2012 incident in which an explosion wrecked a Porsche owned by Scott Mescudi, professionally known as Kid Cudi.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
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Walls were wrecked by artillery blasts and gunfire.—
Emmanuel Akinwotu,
NPR,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroy. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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