Synonyms of destroy

destroy

verb

di-ˈstrȯi 

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

• ruin
• demolish
• devastate
• shatter
• wreck
• smash
• overcome
• damage
• waste
• annihilate
• erode
• extinguish
• decimate
• vaporize
• kill
• dismantle
• cripple
• pulverize
• raze
• ravage
• mar
• remove
• crush
• desolate
• defeat
• cream
• injure
• tear down
• subdue
• pull down
• break
• total
• nuke
• rub out
• blast
• conquer
• spoil
• wrack
• do in
• disintegrate
• best
• eradicate
• impair
• harm
• obliterate
• dissolve
• assassinate
• deteriorate
• mutilate
• disfigure
• lick
• trim
• master
• win (against)
• prevail (over)
• surmount
• deface
• triumph (over)
• exterminate
• vitiate
• undo
• sweep (away)
• slaughter
• rout
• wear (away)
• beat
• dynamite
• whip
• extirpate
• blow up
• disassemble
• plunder
• expunge
• thrash
• mangle
• slay
• scour
• wipe out
• liquidate
• scotch
• clobber
• unmake
• sack
• havoc
• despoil
• wash out
• fell
• execute
• vandalize
• trounce
• overbear
• trample
• efface
• murder
• loot
• overmatch
• blot out
• gut
• take down
• pillage
• cut down
• zap
• kill off
• massacre
• snuff (out)
• unbuild
• drub
• stamp (out)
• dispatch
• dilapidate
• take out
• wallop
• trash
• butcher
• root (out)
• mow (down)
• skunk

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• build
• construct
• raise
• create
• set up
• erect
• repair
• put up
• fix
• produce
• patch
• make
• rear
• protect
• establish
• invent
• form
• found
• mend
• manufacture
• preserve
• assemble
• save
• shape
• constitute
• organize
• forge
• fabricate
• restore
• bring about
• mold
• institute
• revamp
• recondition
• conserve
• rebuild
• frame
• fashion
• reconstruct
• doctor
• father
• renovate
• remodel

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

• ravage
• devastate
• ruin
• plunder
• scourge
• obliterate
• eradicate
• overwhelm
• wreck
• shatter
• sack
• annihilate
• despoil
• demolish
• vaporize
• desolate
• extinguish
• wipe out
• extirpate
• decimate
• expunge
• strip
• pillage
• loot
• waste
• smash
• overthrow
• total
• mow
• harry
• raze
• nuke
• overpower
• overrun
• maraud
• wrack
• foray
• crush
• rub out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restore
• recover
• rehabilitate
• redeem
• repair
• fix
• patch
• recondition
• mend
• revamp

3

as in to kill

to deprive of life

regrettably, the veterinarian was forced to destroy the injured horse

Synonyms & Similar Words

• kill
• slay
• take
• dispatch
• fell
• claim
• carry off
• murder
• slaughter
• assassinate
• do for
• neutralize
• do away with
• annihilate
• croak
• do in
• decimate
• waste
• cut down
• make away with
• finish
• execute
• off
• smite
• kill off
• massacre
• take out
• mow
• butcher
• put away
• whack
• terminate
• blot out
• snuff
• get
• ice
• bump off
• rub out
• knock off
• suicide
• scrag
• put down
• euthanize
• martyr

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restore
• revive
• raise
• animate
• resurrect
• nurture
• resuscitate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of destroy

The goal was to destroy the al-Qaida terrorist network responsible for the attacks and to track down its leader, Osama bin Laden, who was hiding in caves in the country’s mountainous terrain. — Michael Collins, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

Standard backyard composting rarely reaches temperatures high enough to destroy weed seeds or persistent rhizomes. — Manjot Kaur Sidhu, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026

There were real successes, such as locating Osama bin Laden in 2011 and destroying his group, al-Qaida, and later, dismantling the Islamic State. — Greg Myre, NPR, 9 Sep. 2026

Where upgrades are still underway, equipment took heavier damage, and in some cases, was destroyed. — Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026