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
Robelis Despaigne destroyed Junior dos Santos to open the main card, Mike Perry battered Nate Diaz into a doctor's stoppage in the co-main, and the one legacy name who delivered violence was Francis Ngannou with his highlight-reel KO of Philipe Lins.
—
Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Russian authorities said air defenses destroyed around 80 drones headed to Moscow and downed more than 1,000 over the country in the past 24 hours.
—Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 17 May 2026
The centrifuges are very sensitive, they're also mostly destroyed.
—CBS News, 17 May 2026
Russian air defenses destroyed a total of 556 drones over Russia, the country’s defense ministry said.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Russian authorities said air defenses destroyed around 80 drones headed to Moscow and downed more than 1,000 over the country in the past 24 hours.
—Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 17 May 2026
The centrifuges are very sensitive, they're also mostly destroyed.
—CBS News, 17 May 2026
Russian air defenses destroyed a total of 556 drones over Russia, the country’s defense ministry said.
—ABC News, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for destroy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destroy
Verb
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Since 2015, it has been held in ten different cities, including Las Vegas, where a red carpet was constructed atop the Bellagio’s fountain pool, and Nashville, where rowdy attendees ruined bachelorette parties on Broadway.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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Many riads were in a state of disrepair, crammed with striking examples of traditional craftsmanship going to ruin.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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When devastating floods ravaged central Texas last July, Shiflet gathered a crew and traveled two hours to spend days in the wreckage to help.—
Kristin Shaw,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
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This town of around 200 native Náhuatl people is among many in the central state of Guerrero ravaged by decades of fracturing rival criminal groups warring for territorial control.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Also etched in the base of the memorial are the names of the many Chicago firefighters killed in the line of duty.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
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Jason Ulseth, the Riverkeeper’s executive director, estimated there are thousands of dead fish in the river and called it the worst fish kill he’s seen in his 20 years with the organization.—
Drew Kann,
AJC.com,
23 May 2026
Verb
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The Home Insurance Building was demolished in 1931 to make way for the 42-story Field Building, which became the city’s next largest office building.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
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Indeed, back in the 1990s and 2000s, municipalities across the country were happily demolishing Brutalist eyesores made to house the poor.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Verb
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The trouble was that the British economy was fragile—most mortgages in the UK at the time had variable rates, so raising interest rates would devastate British homeowners.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
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Sarah Konwahahawi Herne was devastated.—
Brian Mann,
NPR,
14 May 2026
Verb
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It is thought that the Greek myth could be a retelling of an older Babylonian tale, in which the hero Gilgamesh slayed a colossal dog-headed, winged serpent known as a Mush-dragon.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
9 May 2026
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However, this is Mother’s Day weekend, so a golden opportunity to either rewatch Miranda Presley slay another day or finally get a chance to see it for the first time as a holiday outing.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
9 May 2026
Verb
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By early afternoon, however, the calm had been shattered by almost two dozen Israeli air strikes.—
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
21 May 2026
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Her instinct has been shattered by her breakup.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
Verb
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The line was a wrecking crew that also managed to outscore the opposition.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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Bubba, by the way, was actually wrecked later in the race by John Hunter Nemechek.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destroy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destroy. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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